Bridge (disambiguation)

Primary, physical and structural senses

• Bridge (structure): a constructed span that supports traffic or services above physical obstacles. Types range from simple footbridges and beam bridges to arch, suspension and cable-stayed designs; considerations include load, foundation, materials and maintenance. See bridge (structure) for an overview.
• Bridge (ship): the area or platform from which a vessel is navigated and commanded. It typically houses steering and navigation controls and provides views used for safe maneuvering.
• Bridge (instrument): a component on string instruments that supports strings and transfers their vibration to the instrument body; found on violins, guitars and many other instruments. Further detail at bridge (instrument).

Arts, music and games

The term appears often in creative contexts. In music, a bridge is a transitional passage that contrasts with verses and choruses and often prepares a return to them. It can be a short interlude or a more elaborate development section; consult bridge (music) for conventions in different genres. In recorded music and artist credits, the word also appears in names of labels and titles of works.

• Contract bridge: a trick-taking card game for four players in partnerships that features an auction (bidding) phase and a play phase. It is commonly called simply "bridge" and has a long tradition of clubs, tournaments and social play. See contract bridge.
• Hashiwokakero (Japanese puzzle): the name means "build bridges" and describes a logic puzzle in which players draw links between islands according to numeric rules.
• The Bridge (documentary): a film that examined suicides at the Golden Gate Bridge and prompted public discussion about safety and mental health; the title uses the literal site's name.

Science, engineering and medicine

Many technical disciplines use "bridge" for elements that connect or span. In chemistry a bridge can be an atom or chain connecting two ring systems in a polycyclic molecule. A salt bridge in electrochemistry is an ionic connection between half-cells that permits ion flow while limiting direct mixing. In protein chemistry, a salt bridge refers to electrostatic interactions between oppositely charged side chains that stabilise folded structures.

In electronics and electrical engineering, the word describes specific circuit topologies: a bridge rectifier converts alternating current to direct current using four diodes in a bridge arrangement, while the Wheatstone bridge is a classic configuration for precise comparison of resistances. In computing and networking, a network bridge links separate network segments so they behave as one logical network, forwarding traffic selectively between them.

In dentistry a bridge is a fixed prosthesis that replaces missing teeth by anchoring to adjacent natural teeth or implants; it restores function and appearance and requires appropriate oral health care.

Movement, sports and other technical senses

• Bridge (exercise): a position or movement in gymnastics, yoga and general fitness in which the back is arched and the body is supported on the feet and hands or head and feet; it strengthens the spine, core and shoulders.
• Bridge (grappling): a technique used by a person on their back to generate force, create space or disrupt an opponent's control.
• Bridge (graph theory): an edge whose removal increases the number of connected components of a graph, often called a cut-edge.
• Bridge (prosody): a term used in some analyses of poetic meter to indicate a position where a line cannot be broken within a word or phonological unit.

Business, finance and software

The word is used metaphorically in finance and software. A bridge loan is short-term credit intended to cover a funding gap until longer-term financing becomes available. Some software products use "Bridge" in their names to indicate an application that connects or organises assets—for example, creative-suite utilities described as digital asset managers. Consumer electronics called "bridge cameras" are designed to sit between compact point-and-shoot models and interchangeable-lens cameras in size and capability; see bridge camera for typical characteristics.

Because "bridge" has many domain-specific meanings, context is essential. This disambiguation lists common uses but is not exhaustive: specialised literature often uses the term with narrower technical definitions. For detailed information, follow the topic pages: bridge (structure), contract bridge, bridge camera, bridge (instrument) and bridge (music).