Modern canoes are usually grouped by intended use. Common categories include recreation boats built for stability and comfort on calm water, quiet-water touring designs that track efficiently for lake and deep-river travel, river-tripping or expedition canoes with higher volume for gear and mixed flatwater and whitewater, and whitewater canoes with more rocker for maneuverability in rapids.
Many hulls are hybrids that blend those roles, and makers also sell sport or fishing platforms and solo versus tandem sizes. Where you paddle (and how much gear you carry) matters more than brand labels when matching a type to a trip.
Source: Picking A Canoe? Here is Your Complete Selection Guide — Nova Craft Canoe