H beam is a type of structural steel beam made from rolled steel. It has wide flanges that create a cross-section resembling an uppercase h and is used extensively in metal construction.

Steel H beams are used for all types of metal constructions. From small applications like trailers and big applications like tall steel buildings, the wide flange design and welded construction give h-beams an unparalleled strength-to-weight ratio.

The flanges of an h-beam are almost as wide as the height of the web, giving the beam an almost square cross-section. This increases the surface area making the beam more resistant to buckling which is why it is primarily used vertically as a column in steel structures.