What is the difference between Hormones and steroids?

Unfortunately both of the previous answers have explained this poorly.

Hormones are a group of compounds that are united by a common function. They are chemical messengers. Some hormones (such as insulin) are proteins, some (such as testosterone) are steroids, some (such as ADH) are short peptides. Some are other types of organic compounds.

Steroids are a group of compounds that have similar structures but don't all have the same function. Steroids are a type of lipid that are defined by having 4 carbon rings. They are not fats. Fats and lipids are not the same thing. Lipids are a broad group of molecules that are all relatively small and hydrophobic. Fats and steroids are types of lipids. Cholesterol is a steroid but is not a hormone. Cholesterol is a precursor for a bunch of other steroid molecules, some of which are hormones. Testosterone and Progesterone are steroids that are also hormones and they are derived from cholesterol.

Hormones are just a broad class of molecules that are secreted from one cell and act on another far away. Hormones can be fats, proteins, modified sugars or even small inorganic molecules (nitric oxide as an example). However, steroids are strictly fat. Steroids are just a subset of the larger group which is hormones.

A hormone (from Greek ὁρμή, "impetus") is a chemical released by a cell or a gland in one part of the body that sends out messages that affect cells in other parts of the organism. Only a small amount of hormone is required to alter cell metabolism. In essence, it is a chemical messenger that transports a signal from one cell to another.[1] All multicellular organisms produce hormones; plant hormones are also called phytohormones. Hormones in animals are often transported in the blood. Cells respond to a hormone when they express a specific receptor for that hormone. The hormone binds to the receptor protein, resulting in the activation of a signal transduction mechanism that ultimately leads to cell type-specific responses.

Endocrine hormone molecules are secreted (released) directly into the bloodstream, whereas exocrine hormones (or ectohormones) are secreted directly into a duct, and, from the duct, they flow either into the bloodstream or from cell to cell by diffusion in a process known as paracrine signalling.

Recently it has been found that a variety of exogenous modern chemical compounds have hormone-like effects on both humans and wildlife. Their interference with the synthesis, secretion, transport, binding, action, or elimination of natural hormones in the body can change the homeostasis, reproduction, development, and/or behavior, just as endogenously produced hormones do.[2]

steriod-A steroid is a type of organic compound that contains a characteristic arrangement of four cycloalkane rings that are joined to each other. Examples of steroids include the dietary fat cholesterol, the sex hormones estradiol and testosterone, and the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone. The core of steroids is composed of twenty carbon atoms bonded together that take the form of four fused rings: three cyclohexane rings (designated as rings A, B, and C in the figure to the right) and one cyclopentane ring (the D ring). The steroids vary by the functional groups attached to this four-ring core and by the oxidation state of the rings. Sterols are special forms of steroids, with a hydroxyl group at position-3 and a skeleton derived from cholestane.[1]

Hundreds of distinct steroids are found in plants, animals, and fungi. All steroids are made in cells either from the sterols lanosterol (animals and fungi) or from cycloartenol (plants). Both lanosterol and cycloartenol are derived from the cyclization of the triterpene squalene.[2]

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steroids are fats and hormones are proteins. the difference is in their chemical constitutions. firstly hormones are the real keys of our body mechanism. and they are used in a very specific amount. even a point of less and more of it is fatal. so to make them specific some precursors are used. these can be of any type, a steroid, lipid, protein etc. they triggers the the glands to secrete the hormone and after the specified amount, they even stop the secretion by a mechanism called negative feedback.