Urban sprawl describes low-density, automobile-dependent development spreading outward from city centres, characterized by separated land uses, single-family housing, and car-oriented design. Sprawl is criticized for consuming agricultural and natural lands, requiring expensive infrastructure extensions, increasing transportation costs and emissions, and undermining urban vitality. However, sprawl also reflects housing preferences for yards and space. Containing sprawl involves policies promoting density, protecting rural lands, and directing growth inward. Factors driving sprawl include housing affordability (cheaper land at the fringe), consumer preferences, zoning restrictions on density, and infrastructure subsidies that don't reflect true development costs. Smart growth policies aim to accommodate growth in more compact, efficient patterns.