A facade (or façade) (IPA: /fa 'sad/) is the exterior of a building, especially the front, although some building have facades on the sides and/or the rear. It is a focal point on the building, and will often give an indication of what to expect of the interior.
The facade of Roman churches is often separate from the building itself in terms of when it was built; it is an ornamental front that has been placed on what is often a very simple building. The material is often different; the actual walls are made of cheap materials such as brick or concrete, while the facade is made of materials such as marble or travertine.
The rear wall of a facade is known as the counterfacade.