Key Difference – Structure vs Infrastructure
Although the two terms structure and infrastructure seem related, there is a distinctive difference between structure and infrastructure. Structure is something that is made up of several parts put together in a particular system; it can also refer to the way in which these components are arranged together. Infrastructure refers to underlying base or foundation of a system or organisation. This is the key difference between structure and infrastructure.
What is Structure?
The word structure can have several meanings. It can refer to something that is made up of a number of components held or put together in a particular system. Structure also refer to the way in which parts are arranged together to form a complex whole.
You can understand the meaning of this word better by reading the following sentences.
The tourists were amazed by the amount of time that took them to build this magnificent structure.
The government decided to change the structure of the education system.
The structure usually consists of two writers reading their work.
What is Infrastructure?
Infrastructure can be described as the underlying base or foundation of a system or an organisation.
The Oxford dictionary defines infrastructure as:
“The basic physical and organizational structures and facilities (e.g. buildings, roads, power supplies) needed for the operation of a society or enterprise.”
The American Heritage dictionary defines infrastructure as:
“The basic facilities, services, and installations needed for the functioning of a community or society, such as transportation and communications systems, water and power lines, and public institutions including schools, post offices, and prisons.”
As these two definitions point out, the term infrastructure can refer to both services and facilities.
Infrastructure can be classified into known as hard infrastructure and soft infrastructure. Hard infrastructure is the large physical networks which are necessary for the functioning of a modern industrial nation. The soft infrastructure refers to all institutions which are required to maintain the economy, health, and social & cultural standards of a country, such as the health care system, education system, law enforcement, system of government, etc.
What is the difference between Structure and Infrastructure?
Meaning:
Infrastructure is the foundation or underlying base of a system or an organisation.
Structure is the way in which parts are arranged together to form a complex whole.
Image Courtesy:
“Structure Paris les Halles” By Procsilas Moscas – Flickr (CC BY 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia
“Wellington infrastructure” By Phillip Capper from Wellington, New Zealand – Flickr (CC BY 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia