Endopeptidases, also known as endoproteinases, are enzymes that hydrolyze peptide bonds within the polypeptide chain, breaking down proteins into smaller peptides. Examples include pepsin, trypsin, and chymotrypsin. In contrast, exopeptidases, or exoproteinases, cleave peptide bonds at the ends of the polypeptide chain, either at the N-terminal (aminopeptidases) or C-terminal (carboxypeptidases). These enzymes are involved in the final steps of protein digestion and the degradation of small peptides into individual amino acids.