Cells are the basic unit of life and come in two main types: prokaryotic and eukaryotic. Eukaryotic cells contain membrane-bound organelles and a nucleus, while prokaryotic cells lack these structures. Microscopy techniques like light, fluorescence, electron, and confocal microscopy are used to study cell structures. Key cellular components include the plasma membrane, cytoplasm, cytoskeleton, organelles like the nucleus, mitochondria, chloroplasts, and lysosomes, and in plant cells, a cell wall. These structures work together to carry out essential functions and maintain cell homeostasis.