There are three main types of seismic waves according to its characteristic speed and manner of travel:
Primary waves or P waves rarr→ travel the fastest rarr→ travel through solids, liquids, and gases rarr→ push-pull waves rarr→ causes rock to move back and forth.
Secondary waves or S wavesrarr→travel slower than p waves rarr→ travel only through solidsrarr→ causes rock to move side to side.
Surface waves or L wavesrarr→ slowest seismic waves rarr→ travel from the focus directly upward to the epicenterrarr→ move along the earth's surface up and down rarr→ cause the most of the damage during earthquake because they bend and twist the earth's surface.