Oriel windows are a form of bay window which project from the main wall of the building but do not reach to the ground. Supported by corbels, brackets or similar, an oriel window is most commonly found projecting from an upper floor but is also sometimes used on the ground floor.

Oriel windows are seen in Arab architecture in the form of mashrabiya. In Indian culture these windows and balconies are projected from the street front, providing an area in which women could peer out and see the activities below while remaining invisible.^{[citation needed]}