It is common that a particular type of fault or assemblages of more than one type of faults characterize a certain area that we call as a domain. It is generally characterized by a certain distribution and kinematics of the faults. For example, the greater San Francisco Bay Area includes quite distinctive fault domains as shown in the map of the area in Figure 1 from Aydin and Page (1984). Some of the domains are gray-shaded to highlight them. Figure 2 is the enlargement of one of the domains north-east of the Bay, named as the East Bay Hills domain by the original authors. Several other examples of fault domains from various places can be found under 'Assemblages of Different Types of Faults' emphasizing coexistence of faults with different kinematics.

Figure 1. Map showing several structural domains in the San Francisco Bay Area. Most are contractional domains characterized by thrust faults and folds. However, it should be noted that the extensional domains may exist but they are difficult to identify. From Aydin and Page (1984).

Figure 2. East Bay Hills structural domain located between the Hayward and Calaveras faults defining a large-scale compressional stepover very much like a fold and thrust belt. From Aydin and Page (1984).