What is the difference between longboard and shortboard surfing?

Surfing is a water sport in which the "surfer" stands on top of a board, and glides on top of a wave, typically riding with the wave from ocean to shore. The sport is typically divided into longboarding or shortboarding, although mid-length boards to exist. Longboarding is the original form of surfing, and typically refers to riding a board that is at least 8 feet in length. 

Due to the size and volume of longboards, longboards are more stable and have increased paddle strength. When catching a wave, longboarders can be said to "cruise" and glide as their main motions after catching a wave. Shortboarding typically refers to a board that is less than 5 feet in length, and with less volume and length, shortboarders can manuever more quickly, performing cutbacks and carves when they catch they catch a wave. 

Beginners will typically start with longboarding, although not all will go on to shortboarding, as shortboard surfing is not necessarily considered "progressive" to longboarding, and surfers will pick which style of surfing they feel is more suited to them.