Confused by garden planters

[MerryMarigold]

I'm looking for something which I can put soil straight into and then plant stuff. Will a planter work, or do you need to put pots into it? How do you protect the wood from the soil?

www.primrose.co.uk/venice-rectangular-wooden-planter-h15m-w18m-p-32228.html?src=products_image

What is a 'raised bed' as opposed to a planter?

www.primrose.co.uk/500-litres-sleeper-raised-bed-zest4leisure-180-x45cm-p-103774.html?src=prod_col&cPath=734_737

Any recommendations?

I would line both with strong black plastic, making sure there was drainage holes. The fill the bottom with a few cms of grit.

Raised bed has no bottom normally, the roots grow through the soil in the bed and into the soil under it.

A planter has a base, in theory you could move it around (if not too heavy) and the roots are limited to the soil in it.