The term "pudding" has varied meanings in different regions. In the UK, it's a generic term used to describe a dessert that's eaten after the main meal. It could be any sweet treat to finish the meal - cakes, ice cream, pies, crumbles, custard, cobbler and puddings are a few to name.  However in most parts of the world pudding is meant to be a specific (particular) category of sweet dish that contains milk, sugar, and a thickening agent as the base ingredients such as rice pudding, coconut pudding, and wheat berry pudding.   The primary distinction between mousse and pudding (sweet dish) is the texture, the preparation method and the ingredients used. 1. Pudding is rich and dense whereas mousse is lighter and fluffier. 2. Mousse is not cooked but pudding is a cooked dessert.  3. Starch-based Ingredients are used to thicken pudding whereas mousse is thickened using whipped cream. 4. Mousse is eaten chilled whereas pudding can be eaten chilled or warm.