How many pairs of legs do insects have?

Insects are classified within the class Insecta, which is characterized by having a distinct body plan that includes three main segments: the head, thorax, and abdomen. A key feature of insects is that they typically possess three pairs of legs, with each pair attached to the thorax. This anatomical structure is fundamental to their classification as hexapods, meaning "six-footed."

The three pairs of legs enable insects to demonstrate a range of locomotor adaptations, which can include walking, jumping, or swimming, depending on their ecological niche. This distinctive feature sets insects apart from other arthropods with differing numbers of leg pairs, such as spiders, which belong to the class Arachnida and have four pairs of legs. Thus, the correct answer to the question is that insects have three pairs of legs, reinforcing the defining characteristics of their class.