How are corporation classified according to purpose and ownership?

Corporations can be classified based on purpose into two main categories: for-profit and non-profit. For-profit corporations aim to generate profit for their shareholders, while non-profit corporations are established to serve a public or social purpose without distributing profits to owners. In terms of ownership, corporations are categorized as publicly traded, where shares are available to the general public, or privately held, where shares are owned by a limited number of individuals or entities. These classifications help define the corporation's operational goals and governance structure.