# What are Flutes (Cannelures)?
**Flutes (also called cannelures or fluting) are vertical, semicircular grooves that run the full length of a column shaft.** They are a characteristic decorative element of classical Greek and Roman architecture, found in the Doric, Ionic and Corinthian orders.
## Features by Order
The number and shape of flutes differ between the classical orders:
– **Doric order** — 20 flutes with sharp edges (arrises) between them
– **Ionic order** — 24 flutes separated by narrow flat strips (fillets)
– **Corinthian order** — also 24 flutes with fillets, similar to the Ionic order
In the Doric order the flutes run from base to capital, while in the Ionic and Corinthian orders the lower portion is sometimes filled in (see: flute filling / cabling).
## Function
Fluting serves both an aesthetic and an optical purpose:
– It creates a play of **light and shadow** that makes the column appear more slender and elegant
– It emphasises the **verticality** of the column
– It disguises any **irregularities** in the stone surface
– In rain it channels water quickly down the column
## Application
Flutes appear not only on columns but also on pilasters, lesenes, classical-style furniture legs and modern decorative elements.
## Related Terms
– Flute filling (cabling)
– Column
– Classical orders
– Pilaster
– Capital
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