CRate

A crate is a sturdy, rectangular container used for shipping and storage. Traditionally made of wood, crates today may be constructed from plastic, metal, or fiberboard. They are designed to be durable and stackable, with reinforced corners, securely fastened joints, and sometimes ventilation or compartments to accommodate irregular items.

Crates vary in size and construction to suit different goods. Wooden crates are common for heavy, awkward, or valuable cargo, while plastic and metal crates offer durability and reusability. Some designs are collapsible to save space when empty, and many crates used in international trade are treated to prevent pest transfer.

International shipments of wooden crates may require treatment under ISPM 15, a standard that regulates wood packaging material to minimize pest spread. Along with size and protection, crate design may include environmental sealing for weather resistance, padding, or internal bracing to prevent shifting during transport.

In computing, crate has a distinct meaning in the Rust programming language. A crate is the fundamental unit of compilation and distribution; it can be a library or an executable. Crates are published to crates.io and managed with Cargo, which handles dependencies, versions, and build configuration.