What type of drawing provides a cross-sectional view through a structure?

A sectional drawing provides a cross-sectional view through a structure, allowing for an understanding of the arrangement and relationship of different components within that structure. This type of drawing is especially useful in engineering and architecture because it reveals what lies inside walls or other solid components that are not visible in an exterior view.

Sectional drawings are created by cutting through the structure in a specific plane and showing the resulting internal features, which helps in visualizing how various elements interact with one another. This can include details about materials, sizes, and spatial relationships that are critical for construction or analysis.

In contrast, a floor plan gives a top-down view of a space, illustrating the layout of rooms and fixtures. An elevation drawing provides a view of a structure from one side, depicting its height and style but not its internal components. A detail drawing focuses on a specific part of a structure, offering a more zoomed-in perspective without necessarily showcasing cross-sectional information.