What is phonology in linguistics?

Phonology is the branch of linguistics that studies the systematic organization and patterns of sounds in languages. It deals with the abstract, cognitive aspects of sounds rather than their physical properties, as in phonetics. Phonology focuses on the ways in which sounds function and interact within a particular language system, including the rules governing sound patterns, such as phonemes, syllable structure, stress, intonation, and phonological processes like assimilation and elision. Phonology also examines the role of sounds in conveying meaning and distinguishing words in a language.