What is the difference between weave and hair extensions?

As the booming hair section has now expanded to places near and far, the terms hair extension and hair weave have now taken on a life of their own. So what exactly does it mean when you get a weave or hair extension. In some cultures, both terms are often used interchangeably, while for others there tend to be a few distinct differences between the two.

 
The word hair "extension" alludes to synthetic or human hair that are attached to the natural hair of an individual. This artificial hair is often added to your real hair in order to extend its length and to add volume. Most types of hair extensions are often directly attached to your hair, and as such must be treated like your own hair. Traditionally this is done with either the use of clips, adhesive/glue,  fusion links or with the use of a needle and a thread.  The particular method of using a hair needle and a hair thread is often times what many refer to as a weave. The art of weaving includes completely braiding your natural hair, then sewing hair extensions directly onto your braids. This technique doesn't require your natural hair to be on display; instead it could be covered with top pieces such as closures and frontals.

So you might be wondering, wouldn't that mean a weave is a form of hair extension? If you think so, then you are absolutely correct.

For some, the terms weave and hair extensions are considered to be the same. This can be confusing at first but what this simply means is that for some individuals, weave can be used to refer to the physical hair extension that will be sewn on to your freshly braided hair, while for others it could simply be used to refer to the technique of having these hair extensions sown in. Therefore, it is important to note that both terms could mean something completely different depending on how they are intended to be used.