Teen Gothic

Hi there, extremely new to goth music and was wondering about the difference between darkwave and goth rock. I was googling around to try and find the right term(s) for the genre(s) I most enjoy, and found that there was a lot of overlap between listed bands and artists. Some that were mentioned under both include Christian Death, Bauhaus, The Sisters of Mercy, and Dead Can Dance. This is made even more complicated for me as Apple Music labels pretty much everything as alternative, rock, or goth rock almost interchangeably. I would just like to know if there is any meaningful difference between these terms? Thanks <3

Edit: I should also mention that Google's definitions seem a little strange, as I see bands such as Evanescence and Nine Inch Nails listed under goth rock even though I'm pretty sure they're not goth at all

i recently brought my partner to a underground goth club event and while there asked if he was comfortable because it wasn't his scene, his reply was that he is goth and that it is his scene. He listens to no goth music, does not dress goth, as well as knows no goth bands. he mostly exclusively listens to vaporwave and EDM/raver music, and he keeps saying that he is goth just for wearing black all the time. i tried to ask him if he knew any bands at all and he said that it didnt matter because being goth has nothing to do with fashion and music which i know that goth has a very big connection to music and fashion. i am a baby goth at the moment and was always told that you cant be goth without listening to the music/dressing the part has it changed now that you can be goth without dressing the part or listening to the music?