Window Facts for Kids

This page is about the architectural element. For the computing term, see Window (computing). For the operating system, see Microsoft Windows.

A window of a house in England

An old man looking through the window of a tram in Egypt

A window is a special opening in a wall or roof of a building. It can also be found in cars or other vehicles. Windows are made to let in air and light. Most windows have a clear sheet of glass inside them.

Windows come in many different shapes and sizes. You might see rectangular, square, or circular windows. Some windows even have colored glass that makes beautiful patterns. Windows are usually transparent, which means you can see right through them.

Long ago, before glass was common, people in Asia used paper to cover window openings. This paper was thin enough to let some light into their homes.

Types of Windows
How Windows Are Made
Images for kids
See also

Types of Windows

There are many different kinds of windows, each with its own special design.

Cross-Window Design

A cross-window gets its name because it looks like a cross. It has a vertical bar called a mullion and a horizontal bar called a transom. These bars meet in the middle, forming a cross shape.

Fixed Windows

A fixed window is a window that cannot be opened. Its main job is to let light into a room. You often see fixed windows in places like churches, where they are used for decoration or to bring in light without needing to open.

Single-Hung Sash Windows

A single-hung sash window has two parts, but only one can move. The bottom part, called a sash, can slide up and down. The top sash stays still. This design lets you open the bottom part for fresh air.

Double-Hung Sash Windows

A double-hung sash window is similar, but both parts can move. It has two sashes, one at the top and one at the bottom. Both of these sashes can slide up and down. This gives you more ways to open the window for air.

Casement Windows

A casement window

A casement window opens like a door. It has hinges on the side, and the window sash swings either outward or inward. Casement windows are often held open with a special arm called a casement stay.

Skylights

A skylight

A skylight is a window that is built right into a roof. These windows are great for letting in lots of natural daylight and even moonlight from above. They can make a room feel much brighter.

Roof Lanterns

The lantern over the dome of the Florence Baptistery

A roof lantern is a special glass structure that sits on top of a roof. It often looks like a small building made of glass. Roof lanterns are designed to bring in extra daylight or moonlight from above, making the space below very bright.

Stained Glass Windows

Sunlight shining through stained glass

A stained glass window is made from many small pieces of colored glass. These pieces are often held together by thin strips of lead. The glass can be transparent (see-through), translucent (lets light through but you can't see clearly), or opaque (no light passes through). Stained glass windows often show pictures of people or places. They are very common in churches and cathedrals.

How Windows Are Made

Many different materials are used to make windows. The main part of a window is the frame, which holds the glass. Window frames can be made from wood, polyvinyl chloride (often called PVC), composite materials, aluminium, steel, or fiberglass.

Most windows also have special coverings. These are things like blinds or curtains. These coverings help to block out light, give you more insulation (keeping heat in or out), and provide privacy. While windows let in natural light, too much sunlight can sometimes cause glare or make a room too hot.

Images for kids

Fragment of a Roman window glass plate from the 1st to 4th century A.D. Notice its curved shape.
Alabaster window in the Valencia Cathedral.
A foldup window that swings inward, shown from the side.
An awning window.
A jalousie or louvered window.
Clerestory windows in the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris.
Hexagonal panels on the roof of the Eden Project Biomes in Cornwall, England.
A casement window with latticed panes.
A 5-chamber plastic window frame profile.
A typical installation of insulated windows with uPVC frames.
A woven bamboo window in Japan.
A detail of a stained glass window in the Cologne Cathedral in Cologne, Germany.
A Renaissance window from the Hôtel du Vieux-Raisin in Toulouse, France.
A Renaissance window from the Hôtel d'Assézat in Toulouse.
A Baroque window in Prague, Czech Republic.
A pair of windows on a city house in Bucharest, Romania.
A Neo-Baroque cartouche-window on a city house in Bucharest.
A Neo-Baroque window in Bucharest, with a pediment above it.
A Neo-Baroque window on a city house in Bucharest, with a cartouche and a monogram MS above it.
A cartouche with festoons above a window in Bucharest.
Windows with pediments on a city house in Bucharest.
A window with a corbel and festoon-like decorations above it in Bucharest.
A semicircular window above a door in the D.A. Sturdza House in Bucharest, with various stucco ornaments above it.
A Neo-Baroque window with a pair of angels above it in Wuppertal, Germany.
A window of the Château de Marbeaumont in Bar-le-Duc, France.
Roof windows in Belfort, France.
A Japonist window of La Pagode in Paris.
Art Nouveau oculi window above a door in Strasbourg, France.
Art Nouveau fanlights above a door in Nancy, France.
Windows of a building on Rue de Rivoli in Paris.
A window view from a house in Peak District National Park.
A former church in central Malmö, Sweden, now an office, with tall darkened windows.