Shear walls are vertical structural elements designed to resist lateral forces like winds and earthquakes. They work by transferring shear forces throughout their height and resisting uplift forces. Properly designed and constructed shear wall buildings are very stable and ductile, providing warnings before collapse during severe earthquakes. Common types of shear walls include reinforced concrete, plywood, and steel plate shear walls. Shear walls are an effective and efficient way to resist lateral loads in seismic regions.