A column is a vertical structural element that carries load from above down to the foundation. It is one of the oldest structural devices in architecture. The Greeks carved them from stone, the Romans refined their proportions, and modern engineers build them from steel and reinforced concrete.

Columns work primarily in compression. A load applied at the top travels down through the material to the base. If the column is short and fat, it crushes. If it is long and slender, it buckles. The relationship between length, shape, and material determines how much load it can carry.

Columns can be interior or exterior, exposed or concealed. In many buildings, they are hidden inside walls or furred out for a smooth finish. In others, they are celebrated — the exposed concrete columns of a parking garage, the steel columns of an industrial shed.

Connections matter. A column must transfer its load to the foundation and receive loads from beams and slabs above. Poorly detailed connections can lead to failure, especially under seismic or wind loading.