columnas

Columnas is the plural form of columna in Spanish, and in English it corresponds to columns. The term broadly denotes vertical elements that convey load, organize space, or structure data. In different fields, columnas can refer to architectural supports, ornamental features, or the columns of a table or matrix.

Architectural columnas are vertical members that transfer weight from horizontal members such as beams or arches to the foundation. They can be freestanding or engaged in a wall. Traditional architecture distinguishes orders by proportion, shape, and capitals—Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian—though modern columns use steel or reinforced concrete. Materials range from carved stone in classical buildings to tubular steel in contemporary structures. Design considerations include load, slenderness, buckling, and fire resistance.

In mathematics, a column refers to a vertical set of entries in a matrix, typically treated as a column vector. The space spanned by the columns is the column space. In data handling, a column stores values for a specific field in databases and spreadsheets, enabling alignment and data processing.

Etymology: The word column comes from Latin columna via Old French columna, with related terms across Romance languages. In Spanish, columna and columnas are common in descriptions of architecture, design, and data structures.