What is the difference between the verbs 'ser' and 'estar'?

The verbs ser and estar both translate as 'to be'. Its important to learn the differences between them. Ser is used to talk about permanent attributes. A useful tool to remember exactly when we need to use ser is the acronym DOCTOR. This stands for Descriptions, Occupations, Characteristics, Time, Origin, and Relationships. Descriptions include names, nationalities, physical appearance or religion e.g. Pedro es alta (Pedro is tall) or Yo soy Luisa (I am Luisa). Occupations includes jobs or long term hobbies e.g. Nos somos profesores (We are teachers). Characteristics includes descriptions of someone's personality e.g. Ella es amable (She is friendly). Time includes the time on the clock, dates, days and years e.g. Hoy es jueves (Today is Thursday). Origin includes where a person or object is from e.g. Luis es de Francia (Luis is from France). Relationships includes any personal relationships between friends, family members, or partners e.g. Juan es mi hermano (Juan is my brother).
Estar, on the other hand, is used to talk about temporary states or conditions. We can use the acronym PLACE to remember when to use estar. This stands for Position, Location, Action, Condition, and Emotion. Position includes a physical position or posture that something or someone is in e.g. Los estudiantes están sentados (The students are seated). Location includes where something is, permanently or temporarily e.g. Mi casa está cerca del hospital (My house is close to the hospital). Action includes ongoing actions when followed by a present or past participle e.g. Estamos lavando los dientes (We are cleaning our teeth). Condition includes physical or mental conditions that are temporary and are likely to change e.g. Estás cansada hoy (You are tired today). Finally, Emotion includes how a person is feeling in a specific moment e.g. Están tristes (They are sad).