What's the Forum?
As mentioned earlier, the forum was to the west, by the Sea Gate. It was used for business, religion, government, and meetings. It was large and open, and it was surrounded by columns on three sides. It was also considered the center of Pompeii. Many other buildings surrounded the forum. These include: the Temple of Jupiter, market, Temples of the Emperors and the Lares of Pompeii, Eumachia's Clothworkers' Meeting Hall, polling station, municipal offices, basilica, Temple of Apollo, vegetable market, and public toilet and baths. News was spread around town by notices posted at the fronts of shops.
What were the other buildings for?
The temples were used for worshipping the gods. There were very many, and their statues also stood in the forum. The Clothworkers' Meeting Hall was started by a successful Pompeian businesswoman Eumachia. This was its headquarters. The basilica was the courthouse, where officials heard lawsuits and businessmen met. The officials sat on a raised platform called the tribunal. Pompeians got their goods from the market. The Lares of Pompeii were the guardian spirits, and there was also a temple for the Roman emperors. Elections took place at the polling station, and the municipal offices may have been the treasury, record office, and town council meeting hall. The public toilet... you probably already know what that's for.