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Shelf (storage)

technology Maturity 11-13 Next article →

A shelf is a flat surface used to store things.

Atifells de cuina andalusins, Museu Arqueològic Municipal d'Alcoi
Atifells de cuina andalusins, Museu Arqueològic Municipal d'Alcoi

You can find them in homes or in shops. Some shelves are part of a larger unit. This might be a bookcase or a cabinet.

Shelves stay up in different ways. Some hang on a wall using brackets. Brackets are small supports that hold the shelf up.

Two stainless steel shelf supports 2017
Two stainless steel shelf supports 2017

A floating shelf uses hidden brackets inside the wood. Other shelves stand on their own. These are called free-standing units.

People use many materials to make shelves. Strong wood, bamboo, or steel are common.

Old-slotted-angle-shelving
Old-slotted-angle-shelving

You might also see glass or plastic shelves. These are for lighter items. Some people even use metal pipes to hold up wooden boards.

How a shelf is built depends on its job. A bookshelf is made just for books. In stores, some shelves tilt. These are sloping shelves. They help people see the items more easily.

Shelve with various hair colours (hair dyes) in a hairdresser shop in Germany (2023)
Shelve with various hair colours (hair dyes) in a hairdresser shop in Germany (2023)

This makes it easy to find what you need.

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🖼️ Images & Media (4)
File:Atifells de cuina andalusins, Museu Arqueològic Municipal d'Alcoi.JPG
Atifells de cuina andalusins, Museu...
File:Shelve with various hair colours (hair dyes) in a hairdresser shop in Germany (2023).jpg
Shelve with various hair colours (hair...
File:Old-slotted-angle-shelving.jpg
Old-slotted-angle-shelving.jpg
File:Two stainless steel shelf supports 2017.jpg
Two stainless steel shelf supports 2017.jpg
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