Bar vs. Beam — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on June 14, 2024
A bar is primarily a piece of material with a uniform cross-section, used in construction, while a beam specifically refers to a structural element designed to bear loads, typically horizontal.
Difference Between Bar and Beam
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A bar is a versatile structural element with a consistent cross-section along its length, used in various applications from construction to mechanical systems. It can be made from materials like metal, wood, or plastic. Whereas a beam is a critical structural component specifically designed to support and distribute loads, often horizontal, across its length, preventing structures from bending or collapsing.
Bars are often characterized by their simplicity and uniformity, making them suitable for applications requiring strength along a single axis. On the other hand, beams are engineered to resist bending moments and shear forces, necessitating a more complex design and analysis to ensure they can safely carry the intended loads.
While bars can be used in a wide range of applications beyond construction, including manufacturing and crafts, beams are almost exclusively used in construction and engineering fields to support roofs, floors, and walls.
The manufacturing process for bars is typically straightforward, focusing on creating a uniform cross-sectional shape along the entire length. Beams, however, may undergo specialized processes to enhance their load-bearing capacity, including varying the cross-section and integrating materials with different properties.
Bars are fundamental in both everyday objects and in the framework of buildings, serving as a basic form of structural support or component in machinery. Beams, by contrast, play a crucial role in the integrity of buildings and structures, ensuring they remain stable and safe under various loads.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A solid piece of material with uniform cross-section
A structural element designed to support loads, typically horizontal
Primary Use
General construction, manufacturing, crafts
Structural support in buildings and bridges
Load Bearing
Designed to bear load along its axis
Engineered to resist bending and shear forces
Cross-Section
Uniform throughout its length
May vary, optimized for load distribution
Material Variety
Can be made of metal, wood, plastic, etc
Usually made of steel, reinforced concrete, wood
Compare with Definitions
Bar
Uniform cross-section along their length.
Each bar had a perfectly square cross-section.
Beam
Specifically engineered to withstand bending moments.
The beam's design was optimized for wind loads.
Bar
A solid cylindrical or rectangular piece of material.
The metal bar was cut to length for the machine part.
Beam
A structural element that spans an area to support loads.
Wooden beams were visible across the ceiling.
Bar
Made through extrusion or casting processes.
Aluminum bars are produced by extruding heated aluminum.
Beam
Key component in construction for load distribution.
Steel beams support the weight of the building's floors.
Bar
Used in construction, machinery, and crafts.
The artist used thin bars of iron to create the sculpture.
Beam
Prevents structures from bending or collapsing.
Beams in the roof distribute the snow load evenly.
Bar
Often used as a raw material or structural component.
Bars of steel reinforced the concrete structure.
Beam
Usually steel, wood, or reinforced concrete.
Concrete beams were used for the bridge's understructure.
Bar
A long rigid piece of wood, metal, or similar material, typically used as an obstruction, fastening, or weapon
Bars on the windows
An iron bar
Beam
A long, sturdy piece of squared timber or metal used to support the roof or floor of a building
There are very fine oak beams in the oldest part of the house
The cottage boasts a wealth of exposed beams
Bar
A counter in a pub, restaurant, or cafe across which drinks or refreshments are served
Standing at the bar
Beam
A ray or shaft of light
A beam of light flashed in front of her
The torch beam dimmed perceptibly
Bar
A barrier or restriction to an action or advance
Political differences are not necessarily a bar to a good relationship
Beam
A radiant or good-natured look or smile
A beam of satisfaction
Bar
Any of the short sections or measures, typically of equal time value, into which a piece of music is divided, shown on a score by vertical lines across the stave
The opening bars of the first hymn
Beam
Transmit (a radio signal or broadcast) in a specified direction
The satellite beamed back radio signals to scientists on Earth
Bar
A partition in a court room, now usually notional, beyond which most people may not pass and at which an accused person stands
The prisoner at the bar
Beam
(of a light or light source) shine brightly
The sun's rays beamed down
Bar
The profession of barrister
His dismissal from the Singapore Bar
Beam
Smile radiantly
She beamed with pleasure
Bar
A unit of pressure equivalent to a hundred thousand newtons per square metre or approximately one atmosphere.
Beam
A squared-off log or a large, oblong piece of timber, metal, or stone used especially as a horizontal support in construction.
Bar
Fasten (something, especially a door or window) with a bar or bars
She bolted and barred the door
Beam
A transverse structural member of a ship's frame, used to support a deck and to brace the sides against stress.
Bar
Prevent or prohibit (someone) from doing something or from going somewhere
Journalists had been barred from covering the elections
Beam
The breadth of a ship at the widest point.
Bar
Mark (something) with bars or stripes
His face was barred with light
Beam
The side of a ship
Sighted land off the starboard beam.
Bar
Except for
His kids were all gone now, bar one
Beam
(Informal) The widest part of a person's hips
Broad in the beam.
Bar
A relatively long, straight, rigid piece of solid material used as a fastener, support, barrier, or structural or mechanical member.
Beam
A steel tube or wooden roller on which the warp is wound in a loom.
Bar
A solid oblong block of a substance or combination of ingredients, such as soap or candy.
Beam
An oscillating lever connected to an engine piston rod and used to transmit power to the crankshaft.
Bar
A usually rectangular slice of any of various flat baked confections that are typically dense in texture.
Beam
The bar of a balance from which weighing pans are suspended.
Bar
A rectangular block of a precious metal.
Beam
(Sports) A balance beam.
Bar
See horizontal bar.
Beam
The main horizontal bar on a plow to which the share, coulter, and handles are attached.
Bar
A horizontal rod that marks the height to be cleared in high jumping or pole vaulting.
Beam
One of the main stems of a deer's antlers.
Bar
A standard, expectation, or degree of requirement
A leader whose example set a high bar for others.
Beam
A ray or shaft of light.
Bar
Something that impedes or prevents action or progress
A poor education was a bar to his ambitions.
Beam
A concentrated stream of particles or a similar propagation of waves
A beam of protons.
A beam of light.
Bar
A ridge, as of sand or gravel, on a shore or streambed, that is formed by the action of tides or currents.
Beam
A radio beam.
Bar
A narrow marking, as a stripe or band.
Beam
To radiate light; shine.
Bar
A narrow metal or embroidered strip worn on a military uniform indicating rank or service.
Beam
To smile expansively.
Bar
Chiefly British A small insignia worn on a military decoration indicating that it has been awarded an additional time.
Beam
To emit or transmit
Beam a message via satellite.
Bar
(Heraldry) A pair of horizontal parallel lines drawn across a shield.
Beam
To express by means of a radiant smile
He beamed his approval of the new idea.
Bar
The nullification, defeat, or prevention of a claim or action.
Beam
Any large piece of timber or iron long in proportion to its thickness, and prepared for use.
Bar
The process by which nullification, defeat, or prevention is achieved.
Beam
One of the principal horizontal structural members, usually of steel, timber, or concrete, of a building; one of the transverse members of a ship's frame on which the decks are laid — supported at the sides by knees in wooden ships and by stringers in steel ones.
Bar
The railing in a courtroom separating the participants in a legal proceeding from the spectators.
Beam
(nautical) The maximum width of a vessel (note that a vessel with a beam of 15 foot can also be said to be 15 foot abeam).
This ship has more beam than that one.
Bar
A court or courtroom.
Beam
(nautical) The direction across a vessel, perpendicular to fore-and-aft.
Bar
Attorneys considered as a group. Used with the.
Beam
The crossbar of a mechanical balance, from the ends of which the scales are suspended.
Bar
The profession of law. Used with the.
Beam
The principal stem of the antler of a deer.
Bar
A vertical line drawn through a staff to mark off a measure.
Beam
(literary) The pole of a carriage or chariot.
Bar
A measure.
Beam
(textiles) A cylinder of wood, making part of a loom, on which weavers wind the warp before weaving and the cylinder on which the cloth is rolled, as it is woven.
Bar
Variant of barre.
Beam
The straight part or shank of an anchor.
Bar
A counter at which drinks, especially alcoholic drinks, and sometimes food, are served.
Beam
The central bar of a plow, to which the handles and colter are secured, and to the end of which are attached the oxen or horses that draw it.
Bar
An establishment or room having such a counter.
Beam
In steam engines, a heavy iron lever having an oscillating motion on a central axis, one end of which is connected with the piston rod from which it receives motion, and the other with the crank of the wheel shaft.
Bar
A unit of pressure equal to one million (106) dynes per square centimeter.
Beam
A ray or collection of approximately parallel rays emitted from the sun or other luminous body.
A beam of light
A beam of energy
Bar
To fasten securely with a long, straight, rigid piece of material
Barred the gate.
Beam
(figuratively) A ray; a gleam.
A beam of hope, or of comfort
Bar
To shut in or confine
Barred themselves in the basement.
Beam
One of the long feathers in the wing of a hawk.
Bar
To obstruct or impede; block
Barred the access route.
Beam
(music) A horizontal bar which connects the stems of two or more notes to group them and to indicate metric value.
Bar
To keep out; exclude
Tourists are barred from this room.
Beam
(railway) An elevated rectangular dirt pile used to cheaply build an elevated portion of a railway.
Bar
To prohibit or prevent (someone) from doing something
Failing the eye exam barred him from driving.
Beam
(gymnastics) balance beam
Bar
To prohibit (an action)
The state bars the dumping of waste in the river.
Beam
(ambitransitive) To emit beams of light; to shine; to radiate.
To beam forth light
Bar
(Law) To nullify, defeat, or prevent (a claim or action).
Beam
To smile broadly or especially cheerfully.
Bar
To rule out; except
Can we bar the possibility of foul play?.
Beam
(transitive) To furnish or supply with beams.
Bar
To mark with stripes or bands.
Beam
(transitive) To give the appearance of beams to.
Bar
Chiefly British Except for; excluding
This was your best performance, bar none.
Beam
To transmit matter or information via a high-tech wireless mechanism.
Beam me up, Scotty; there's no intelligent life down here.
The injured crewmembers were immediately beamed to sickbay.
Bar
A solid, more or less rigid object of metal or wood with a uniform cross-section smaller than its length.
The window was protected by steel bars.
Beam
To transmit, especially by direct wireless means such as infrared.
Bar
A solid metal object with uniform (round, square, hexagonal, octagonal or rectangular) cross-section; in the US its smallest dimension is 4 inch or greater, a piece of thinner material being called a strip.
Ancient Sparta used iron bars instead of handy coins in more valuable alloy, to physically discourage the use of money.
We are expecting a carload of bar tomorrow.
Beam
To stretch something (for example, an animal hide) on a beam.
Bar
A cuboid piece of any solid commodity.
Bar of chocolate
Bar of soap
Beam
To put (something) on a beam.
Bar
A broad shaft, band, or stripe.
A bar of light
A bar of colour
Beam
To connect (musical notes) with a beam, or thick line, in music notation.
Bar
A long, narrow drawn or printed rectangle, cuboid or cylinder, especially as used in a bar code or a bar chart.
Beam
Any large piece of timber or iron long in proportion to its thickness, and prepared for use.
Bar
(typography) Any of various lines used as punctuation or diacritics, such as the pipe ⟨{{!}}⟩, fraction bar (as in 12), and strikethrough (as in Ⱥ), formerly including oblique marks such as the slash.
Beam
One of the principal horizontal timbers of a building or ship.
The beams of a vessel are strong pieces of timber stretching across from side to side to support the decks.
Bar
(mathematics) The sign indicating that the characteristic of a logarithm is negative, conventionally placed above the digit(s) to show that it applies to the characteristic only and not to the mantissa.
Beam
The width of a vessel; as, one vessel is said to have more beam than another.
Bar
(physics) A similar sign indicating that the charge on a particle is the negative of its usual value (and that consequently the particle is in fact an antiparticle).
Beam
The bar of a balance, from the ends of which the scales are suspended.
The doubtful beam long nods from side to side.
Bar
A business selling alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises, or the premises themselves; a public house.
The street was lined with all-night bars.
Beam
The principal stem or horn of a stag or other deer, which bears the antlers, or branches.
Bar
The counter of such premises.
Step up to the bar and order a drink.
Beam
The pole of a carriage.
Bar
A counter, or simply a cabinet, from which alcoholic drinks are served in a private house or a hotel room.
Beam
A cylinder of wood, making part of a loom, on which weavers wind the warp before weaving; also, the cylinder on which the cloth is rolled, as it is woven; one being called the fore beam, the other the back beam.
Bar
, juice bar, etc.}} Premises or a counter serving any type of beverage.
Beam
The straight part or shank of an anchor.
Bar
An establishment where alcohol and sometimes other refreshments are served.
Beam
The main part of a plow, to which the handles and colter are secured, and to the end of which are attached the oxen or horses that draw it.
Bar
An informal establishment selling food to be consumed on the premises.
A burger bar
A local fish bar
Beam
A heavy iron lever having an oscillating motion on a central axis, one end of which is connected with the piston rod from which it receives motion, and the other with the crank of the wheel shaft; - called also working beam or walking beam.
Bar
An establishment offering cosmetic services.
A nail bar; a brow bar
Beam
A ray or collection of parallel rays emitted from the sun or other luminous body; as, a beam of light, or of heat.
How far that little candle throws his beams!
Bar
An official order or pronouncement that prohibits some activity.
The club has lifted its bar on women members.
Beam
A ray; a gleam; as, a beam of comfort.
Mercy with her genial beam.
Bar
Anything that obstructs, hinders, or prevents; an obstruction; a barrier.
Beam
One of the long feathers in the wing of a hawk; - called also beam feather.
Bar
A metasyntactic variable representing an unspecified entity, often the second in a series, following foo.
Suppose we have four objects, foo, bar, baz and quux.
Beam
To send forth; to emit; - followed ordinarily by forth; as, to beam forth light.
Bar
A dividing line (physical or notional) in the chamber of a legislature beyond which only members and officials may pass.
Beam
To emit beams of light.
He beamed, the daystar of the rising age.
Bar
The railing surrounding the part of a courtroom in which the judges, lawyers, defendants and witnesses stay.
Beam
A signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides pilots in darkness or bad weather
Bar
The bar exam, the legal licensing exam.
He's studying hard to pass the Bar this time; he's failed it twice before.
Beam
Long thick piece of wood or metal or concrete, etc., used in construction
Bar
Collectively, lawyers or the legal profession; specifically applied to barristers in some countries, but including all lawyers in others.
He was called to the bar, he became a barrister.
Beam
A column of light (as from a beacon)
Bar
One of an array of bar-shaped symbols that display the level of something, such as wireless signal strength or battery life remaining.
I don't have any bars in the middle of this desert.
Beam
A group of nearly parallel lines of electromagnetic radiation
Bar
(music) A vertical line across a musical staff dividing written music into sections, typically of equal durational value.
Beam
(nautical) breadth amidships
Bar
(music) One of those musical sections.
Beam
A gymnastic apparatus used by women gymnasts
Bar
(sports) A horizontal pole that must be crossed in the high jump and pole vault.
Beam
Smile radiantly; express joy through one's facial expression
Bar
(metaphorical) Any level of achievement regarded as a challenge to be overcome.
Beam
Emit light; be bright, as of the sun or a light;
The sun shone bright that day
The fire beamed on their faces
Bar
The crossbar.
Beam
Express with a beaming face or smile;
He beamed his approval
Bar
(backgammon) The central divider between the inner and outer table of a backgammon board, where stones are placed if they are hit.
Beam
Broadcast over the airwaves, as in radio or television;
We cannot air this X-rated song
Bar
An addition to a military medal, on account of a subsequent act.
Beam
Especially of the complexion: show a strong bright color, such as red or pink;
Her face glowed when she came out of the sauna
Bar
A linear shoaling landform feature within a body of water.
Beam
Experience a feeling of well-being or happiness, as from good health or an intense emotion;
She was beaming with joy
Her face radiated with happiness
Bar
A ridge or succession of ridges of sand or other substance, especially a formation extending across the mouth of a river or harbor or off a beach, and which may obstruct navigation. (FM 55-501).
Bar
(heraldry) One of the ordinaries in heraldry; a diminutive of a fess.
Bar
A city gate, in some British place names.
Bar
(mining) A drilling or tamping rod.
Bar
(mining) A vein or dike crossing a lode.
Bar
(architecture) A gatehouse of a castle or fortified town.
Bar
(farriery) The part of the crust of a horse's hoof which is bent inwards towards the frog at the heel on each side, and extends into the centre of the sole.
Bar
The space between the tusks and grinders in the upper jaw of a horse, in which the bit is placed.
Bar
(slang) A measure of drugs, typically one ounce.
Bar
A non-SI unit of pressure equal to 100,000 pascals, approximately equal to atmospheric pressure at sea level.
Bar
(transitive) To obstruct the passage of (someone or something).
Our way was barred by a huge rockfall.
Bar
(transitive) To prohibit.
I couldn't get into the nightclub because I had been barred.
Bar
(transitive) To lock or bolt with a bar.
Bar the door
Bar
To imprint or paint with bars, to stripe.
Bar
Except, other than, besides.
He invited everyone to his wedding bar his ex-wife.
Bar
(horse racing) Denotes the minimum odds offered on other horses not mentioned by name.
Leg At Each Corner is at 3/1, Lost My Shirt 5/1, and it's 10/1 bar.
Bar
A piece of wood, metal, or other material, long in proportion to its breadth or thickness, used as a lever and for various other purposes, but especially for a hindrance, obstruction, or fastening; as, the bars of a fence or gate; the bar of a door.
Thou shalt make bars of shittim wood.
Bar
An indefinite quantity of some substance, so shaped as to be long in proportion to its breadth and thickness; as, a bar of gold or of lead; a bar of soap.
Bar
Anything which obstructs, hinders, or prevents; an obstruction; a barrier.
Must I new bars to my own joy create?
Bar
A bank of sand, gravel, or other matter, esp. at the mouth of a river or harbor, obstructing navigation.
Bar
Any railing that divides a room, or office, or hall of assembly, in order to reserve a space for those having special privileges; as, the bar of the House of Commons.
Bar
The railing that incloses the place which counsel occupy in courts of justice. Hence, the phrase at the bar of the court signifies in open court.
Bar
Any tribunal; as, the bar of public opinion; the bar of God.
Bar
A barrier or counter, over which liquors and food are passed to customers; hence, the portion of the room behind the counter where liquors for sale are kept.
Bar
An ordinary, like a fess but narrower, occupying only one fifth part of the field.
Bar
A broad shaft, or band, or stripe; as, a bar of light; a bar of color.
Bar
A vertical line across the staff. Bars divide the staff into spaces which represent measures, and are themselves called measures.
Bar
The space between the tusks and grinders in the upper jaw of a horse, in which the bit is placed.
Bar
A drilling or tamping rod.
Bar
A gatehouse of a castle or fortified town.
Bar
To fasten with a bar; as, to bar a door or gate.
Bar
To restrict or confine, as if by a bar; to hinder; to obstruct; to prevent; to prohibit; as, to bar the entrance of evil; distance bars our intercourse; the statute bars my right; the right is barred by time; a release bars the plaintiff's recovery; - sometimes with up.
He barely looked the idea in the face, and hastened to bar it in its dungeon.
Bar
To except; to exclude by exception.
Nay, but I bar to-night: you shall not gauge meBy what we do to-night.
Bar
To cross with one or more stripes or lines.
For the sake of distinguishing the feet more clearly, I have barred them singly.
Bar
A room or establishment where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter;
He drowned his sorrows in whiskey at the bar
Bar
A counter where you can obtain food or drink;
He bought a hot dog and a coke at the bar
Bar
A rigid piece of metal or wood; usually used as a fastening or obstruction or weapon;
There were bars in the windows to prevent escape
Bar
Musical notation for a repeating pattern of musical beats;
The orchestra omitted the last twelve bars of the song
Bar
An obstruction (usually metal) placed at the top of a goal;
It was an excellent kick but the ball hit the bar
Bar
The act of preventing;
There was no bar against leaving
Money was allocated to study the cause and prevention of influenza
Bar
(meteorology) a unit of pressure equal to a million dynes per square centimeter;
Unfortunately some writers have used bar for one dyne per square centimeter
Bar
A submerged (or partly submerged) ridge in a river or along a shore;
The boat ran aground on a submerged bar in the river
Bar
The body of individuals qualified to practice law in a particular jurisdiction;
He was admitted to the bar in New Jersey
Bar
A block of solid substance (such as soap or wax);
A bar of chocolate
Bar
A portable .30 caliber magazine-fed automatic rifle operated by gas pressure; used by United States troops in World War I and in World War II and in the Korean War
Bar
A horizontal rod that serves as a support for gymnasts as they perform exercises
Bar
A heating element in an electric fire;
An electric fire with three bars
Bar
(law) a railing that encloses the part of the courtroom where the judges and lawyers sit and the case is tried;
Spectators were not allowed past the bar
Bar
Prevent from entering; keep out;
He was barred from membership in the club
Bar
Render unsuitable for passage;
Block the way
Barricade the streets
Stop the busy road
Bar
Expel, as if by official decree;
He was banished from his own country
Bar
Secure with, or as if with, bars;
He barred the door
Common Curiosities
What is a bar in construction?
A bar is a solid piece of material with a uniform cross-section, used as raw material or structural support.
What materials are commonly used for beams?
Beams are commonly made from steel, reinforced concrete, or wood, depending on the structural requirements.
Can bars be used as beams?
Bars can be used in beam-like applications but are not specifically designed for load distribution like beams.
How are bars manufactured?
Bars are manufactured through processes like extrusion and casting, focusing on creating a uniform cross-section.
Why are beams important in construction?
Beams provide essential support for buildings and structures, ensuring stability and safety under various loads.
Are bars cheaper than beams?
Bars are generally less expensive than beams due to their simpler manufacturing process and material requirements.
What is the difference in the cross-section between a bar and a beam?
Bars have a uniform cross-section, while beams may have varied cross-sections optimized for load distribution.
How does a beam work?
A beam supports and distributes loads across its length, preventing structures from bending by resisting bending moments and shear forces.
Can beams be made from plastic?
While less common, beams can be made from reinforced plastic materials for specific lightweight or corrosion-resistant applications.
What is the role of beams in bridge construction?
Beams play a crucial role in bridge construction by supporting the bridge deck and distributing loads to the foundations.
Can a beam be horizontal and vertical?
Beams are primarily used horizontally to support loads, but they can also be placed vertically in certain structural applications.
How do bars contribute to structural integrity?
Bars provide strength along their axis and can be used to reinforce other structural elements like concrete.
Are there different types of beams?
Yes, there are various types of beams, including cantilever, simply supported, fixed, and continuous beams, each designed for specific load and support conditions.
How are beams designed?
Beams are designed through engineering analysis to ensure they can safely support and distribute the intended loads.
What types of loads do beams resist?
Beams are designed to resist bending moments, shear forces, and sometimes torsional forces.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
