Horizontal band around the exterior surface of a building, serving a variety of functions. A stringcourse (or string course, or belt line) may visually demarcate different levels of a building or changes in the type of wall cladding, or help conceal beams and slabs. Apart from their aesthetic functions, stringcourses also provide structural support by distributing the weight of the upper floor or acting as a base for columns. They are useful in shedding water away from the wall surface, thereby protecting the exterior from dampness and decay. They may be plain or ornamented, sometimes bearing decorative friezes. Stringcourses historically feature in Greek and Roman temple architecture and in medieval churches and castles, traditionally made using stone and brick; modern stringcourses may feature concrete, metal, or even glass.