Urban areas present the most complex environment for military operations. This complexity is derived from numerous factors such as location, history, economic development, climate, available building materials, the natural terrain on which they are built, the cultures of their inhabitants, and many other factors. There are many ways to frame an understanding of the factors influencing the urban environment, one of which is to view the urban environment as an urban triad consisting of complex man-made physical terrain, a population of significant size and density, and an infrastructure. A complex man-made physical terrain consisting of manmade structures of varying types, sizes, materials, and construction. A population of significant size and density inhabits, works in, and uses the man-made and natural terrain. An infrastructure upon which the area depends also occupies man-made terrain and provides human services and cultural and political structure for the urban area and of ten beyond, perhaps for the entire nation. Operations in urban areas may occur within the context of a campaign or major operation. These operations may take place entirely within a city or may include multiple urban areas and may be influenced by interconnected surrounding areas. The joint force commander (JFC) will determine whether or not operating in an urban environment is essential for the conduct of the campaign or major operation and, if so, where and when to conduct joint urban operations (JUOs). The urban environment is made up of adaptive system with a wide range of structures, processes, and functions that have evolved to sustain concentrated human societies in confined space. These structures are all the various familial, tribal, professional, commercial, governmental, social, religious, educational, and media institutions that typify urban society. Planning for operations conducted in urban environments generally follows the same basic process as planning for operations in other environments. The challenges inherent in operating in an urban area are sufficiently different and complex. The essential problem is how to operate in an urban environment to defeat adversaries embedded and diffused within populated urban areas without causing catastrophic damage to the existing, functioning society. If a major JUO is to be undertaken as part of a larger campaign, then plans should address the difficult balance, synchronization, and integration between the JUO and the rest of the campaign. Joint functions are related capabilities and activities grouped together to help JFCs integrate, synchronize, and direct joint operations. Functions that are common to joint operations at all levels of war fall into six basic groups - command and control, intelligence, fires, movement and maneuver, protection, and sustainment. A number of subordinate tasks, missions, and related capabilities help define each function. Some tasks, missions, and capabilities could apply to more than one joint function. The ability of the JFC to influence the outcome of operations conducted in urban areas is the result of leadership and the ability to control forces and functions in order to execute the intent. The key to understanding the urban operational environment at all levels is the ability to rapidly collect and disseminate information. Since any JUO contains a great deal of uncertainty, and since knowledge is a perishable asset, then speed and precision are necessary to get the right information in the right hands as expediently as possible. This publication provides joint doctrine for the planning, execution, and assessment of joint operations in an urban environment and explains how they differ from operations undertaken in other environments.