Help with knitting please

[Zigzagwanderer]

Could someone please explain the difference between a garter stitch and a stocking stitch.
Both techniques look exactly the same to me but with a difference appearance.
I'm just starting to learn to knit, so keep it simple. Thanks.

[droitwichmummy]

Garter stitch is doing knit stitch every row; stocking stitch alternates a knit row and a purl row

[HappyAsASandboy]

Garter stitch requires you to knit every row. Every stitch of every row is a knit stitch. It ends up looking like a series of wiggly lines.

Stocking stitch requires you to knit the first row, then purl the second row, then knit the third row, purl the forth etc. it ends up smooth on one side and tightly spaced wiggly lines on the other.

Try it out for 6 rows or so and you'll see the difference :)

[Zigzagwanderer]

Ok thank you very much.