There can be many kinds of friends, but good friends are few . Throughout our lives we meet many people and make many friends, but as the years go by we lose contact with some of them and meet new people.

A person’s friendship is a precious gift that gives you life, and they say that he who has a friend has a treasure . Unfortunately, sometimes we have to realize that who we thought was our friend was not really there when we needed him. And of course, it is in those difficult moments when you really realize who loves you and who will be there to help you through it.

New technologies have changed the way we relate to each other

In recent decades, the way we relate to each other has changed radically. If we used to make friendships face to face, it is now possible to make good friends without even seeing that someone in person. In fact, we are able to make friends in different parts of the world, something unthinkable just a few years ago .

It is also true that, in this way, we can make many friendships that are superficial, and on many occasions we cannot even consider them friends. Having thousands of Facebook contacts does not mean that we have many friendships, because real friendships are few.

The types of friends there are

But are all friends the same? Not really. Here we explain the different types of friends that exist, and their main characteristics .

1. Friend with right

The entitled friends or entitled friends are those friends for whom, in addition to friendship, there is physical attraction. This usually occurs between both heterosexuals and homosexuals. Friends with benefits may end up being a couple. But if you don’t want anything serious with the other person, the ideal is to make the limits clear because the friendship can end badly.

2. Toxic Friend

The toxic friends are those with whom there is no balance, that is, you give but they don’t support you because of the way you are , they often disappoint you, and you often notice how they have a somewhat “peculiar” way of understanding friendship. In the long run, toxic friends cause suffering. So it’s best to stay away from them if you have any.

To find out if you also have toxic friends in your life, read our article: “Toxic friendships: 7 signs to spot a bad friend”

3. Close friend

The close friend is the one you can trust no matter what happens and tell him about your intimacies . You trust him and you know he will not let you down. Thanks to the level of intimacy you have with your close friends, they can be a great help when you are having a hard time.

4. Imaginary Friend

The imaginary friend often occurs in children and, in some cases, in people who suffer from mental disorders. Children who visualize these types of friendships often have emotional problems or self-esteem problems. In adults, they may suffer from schizophrenia.

5. Virtual friend

This type of friends, the virtual friends , are characterized because we know them in a virtual environment, for example, through chats, forums, social networks like Facebook or applications like Tinder or Badoo. Sometimes, these friends can become close friends and even entitled friends .

6. False friend (or interested friend)

The false friends are characterized by their interest, whether it is for your money, your vehicle or whatever the reason is . They are different from toxic friends because the latter can be lifelong friends and do not have to be interested. Your personalities may simply not fit together and eventually become a toxic and destructive friendship.

Learn more: “The 6 Signs of a False Friend”

7. Childhood friend

The childhood friend is that friend with whom you have spent great moments since you were little . He has seen you grow up and, in fact, you have grown up together. Distance may separate you, but he will always be there like on the first day, noticing your love and attention.

8. Best friend

The best friend is that person with whom you share absolutely everything and whom you love almost as much as your partner . He may have been your childhood friend or you may have met him at another time in your life, but there is chemistry between you and there is something very strong that unites you. He is like a brother to you and is present in good times and bad.

9. Protective Friend

The protective friend is the one who is like your father, a kind of unconditional bodyguard . This type of friend is usually a woman, because sometimes the male friend behaves as if he had a father’s role. Sometimes he can behave this way because he likes his friend.

10. Friend of the party

You only meet your party friend when you go out, but you seem to have known each other all your lives . You have a good time together, but when the night is over you never see him again and he never calls you. You usually have him on Facebook but he doesn’t talk to you, unless he needs a party partner that night because he’s been dumped.

11. Family friend

A somewhat undefined category. The family friends s and consider friendships shared by all members of a family . This can be understood as a way that no one in the family wants to take responsibility for that friendship In any case, when a friend is loved by the family as a whole, he is usually a good companion for parties, weekends and barbecues. It is as if he were practically another member of the family.

12. Flashing Friend

The flashing friend can be seen very occasionally. Your friendship seems to go through great ups and downs: you are stuck together for a long time, and suddenly it disappears for months … or even years. In any case, they are grateful friends, because whenever you meet again you take up the relationship as if time had not passed.