What is the difference between a shed and a carport?

The main differences between a shed and a carport lie in their purpose, structure, and enclosure.

■ Shed

A shed can be imagined as a small, independent room or storage space.
• Main purpose: Storage. It is designed to store things such as gardening tools, lawnmowers, bicycles, outdoor furniture, or to serve as a workshop for craftsmen.
• Structure and enclosure:
It is usually fully enclosed, with four walls, a roof, and one or more doors.
It provides complete protection, effectively shielding against rain, wind, sun, and snow, protecting internal items from the weather, and preventing dust and animals from entering.
Sheds usually have a solid floor.
• Privacy and security: Because it is enclosed, it can usually be locked, providing higher security and privacy.

■ Carport

A carport, as the name suggests, is a simple shelter designed specifically for vehicles.
• Main purpose: Vehicle protection. It is primarily used to provide a covered parking space for cars, trucks, motorcycles, or RVs.
• Structure and enclosure:
The structure is usually open-sided. It only has a roof supported by columns (posts), and generally has no walls (or only one or two partial walls).
It provides overhead protection, shielding against rain, hail, falling leaves, and direct sunlight, but the sides and front/back are open.
It usually does not have an enclosed floor, but is built on an existing driveway or ground.
• Privacy and security: Because it is open, it cannot be locked and is primarily used for weather protection, not for secure storage.