The basic shapes of roofs are flat, mono-pitched, gabled, hipped, butterfly, arched and domed.

A Gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of intersecting roof pitches. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structured system used, which reflects climate, material availability and aesthetic concerns.

A gable wall or gable or gable end more commonly refers to the entire wall, including the gable and the wall below it whereas a roof is the covering on the uppermost part of a building or shelter which provides protection from animals and weather.