Cracks in buildings can be either structural or non-structural. Structural cracks indicate failure or overloading of the building, while non-structural cracks do not compromise safety but can allow water penetration. Cracks are classified based on their width as thin, medium, or wide. Their appearance can take different forms like vertical, horizontal, diagonal, or irregular patterns. Cracks have various causes including moisture changes, thermal effects, material issues, foundation movement, or vegetation. The document provides details on specific crack types like plastic shrinkage cracks, settlement cracks, bleeding cracks, and those due to delayed curing or constructional defects. It also discusses cracks in concrete in more depth and suggests measures to prevent or minimize cracking in