Rafter

A rafter is a structural member, a type of beam, which supports the roof of a building. In home construction, rafters are typically made of wood. Rafters are a feature of traditional roof styles. In many buildings, rafters have been replaced by engineered trusses.

Carpenters build rafters to define the pitch of a roof. In the US, roof pitch is measured as rise over run, usually in inches. For example, an "8 pitch" would mean 8 inches of rise over 12 inches of run. In Australia, roof pitch is measured in degrees.