Primary authority refers to original sources of law or information, such as statutes, regulations, court cases, or treaties. It is the main and authoritative source of legal or factual information. On the other hand, secondary authority consists of sources that analyze, explain, or interpret primary authority, such as legal textbooks, law review articles, or encyclopedias. Secondary authority provides commentary, opinions, or summaries of primary authority. While primary authority carries more weight and is directly binding, secondary authority helps in understanding and interpreting the primary sources.