What Is A Cell Wall?

A cell wall is a more or less solid layer surrounding a cell. They are found in bacteria, archaea, fungi, plants, and algae. Animals and most other protists have cell membranes without surrounding cell walls. When a cell wall is removed using cell wall degrading enzymes, what is left of the cell and its surrounding plasma membrane is called a protoplast. The cell wall's main purpose is to actually protect the interior from any physical movement that may damage the cell.