A tie, strap, tie rod, eyebar, guy-wire, suspension cables, or wire ropes, are examples of linear structural components designed to resist tension. It is the opposite of a strut or column, which is designed to resist compression. Ties may be made of any tension resisting material.

In wood-frame construction ties are generally made of galvanized steel. Wood framing ties generally have holes allowing them to be fastened to the wood structure by nails or screws. The number and type of nails are specific to the tie and its use. The manufacturer generally specifies information as to the connection method for each of their products. Among the most common wood framing ties used is the hurricane tie or seismic tie used in the framing of wooden structures where wind uplift or seismic overturning is a concern.

A hurricane tie (also known as hurricane clip or strip) is used to help make a structure (specifically wooden structures) more resistant to high winds (such as in hurricanes), resisting uplift, racking, overturning, and sliding. Each of the crucial connections in a structure, that would otherwise fail under the pressures of high winds, have a corresponding type of tie, generally made of galvanized or stainless steel, and intended to resist hurricane-force and other strong winds.

"Hurricane clip" has two meanings in building construction:

Seismic ties are used to securely fix cabinets, bookcases, desks, appliances, machinery & equipment to walls and/or floors to constrain their movement during earthquakes.

Top mount, face mount, sloped/skewed, and variable pitch hangers for dimensional lumber, engineered wood I-joists, structural composite lumber and masonry wall. To give added strength in increase various load requirements over wood only.

Joist hangers are used to prevent floor joists, which is what supports the flooring systems in residential homes and buildings built using lumber, from dropping and twisting thus creating an uneven walking surface. This is known as floor sagging. It is important to note that when laying wooden subfloor to apply adhesive to the joists which the subfloor will lay on to help prevent creaking & lateral movement and separation of the joists and subfloor. Using screws instead of nails is also highly recommended to prevent the aforementioned creaking and other problems as well. Subfloor isn't load bearing in residential construction. Although the use of steel joist hangers to support floor joists is recommended over a ledger supporting the joists because of house settling and nail separation, they are not required by code in most municipalities. However, toe nailing & end nailing is nowhere near as effective as using hangers to support flooring systems.

Twist straps provide a tension connection between two wood members. They resist uplift at the heel of a truss economically. When the strengthening is being done from the inside, the ideal connector to use is one that connects rafters or trusses directly to wall studs. This can only be done where the rafter or trusses are immediately above or immediately to the side of studs below. In that case a twist strap connector can be used.