Cable-stayed bridges occupy a middle ground between counterweight and suspension steel bridges. A suspension bridge requires more cables (and more steel), and a counterweight bridge requires more steel for its construction, although from a structural point of view they would be bridges that work in counterweight mode.

This type of bridge is used in medium and large spans with spans ranging from 300 meters to a kilometer, such as in straits and bays, although for spans greater than one kilometer, currently only suspension bridges are used. If the designer considers it and the underlying conditions allow it, cable-stayed bridges with successive spans can be built that span spans greater than one kilometer, as is the case of the Río-Antirio Bridge or the Millau Viaduct. This type of bridge is also used for small pedestrian walkways.

One of the characteristics of these bridges is the number of pylons: there are bridges with only one or several, the most typical thing is that they are built with a pair of towers near the ends. They are also characterized by the shape of the pylons (H shape, inverted Y, A, A closed at the bottom (diamond), a single pile...), and whether the stays are attached to both sides of the track, or if they hold it from the center (two bracing planes or a single one, respectively). The arrangement of the stays is also characteristic, since they can be parallel or convergent (radial) with respect to the area where they are attached to the pylon. They can also have a large number of closely spaced braces, or few and far apart, as in older designs.

Some bridges have the same cables in the pillars in the central span of the bridge as in the end spans, others have more cables in the center span than in the end spans, also known as compensation spans.

Some cable-stayed bridges are mixed bridges, with some cable-stayed spans and others of the beam bridge type, as is the case of the Rande Bridge.

Cable-stayed bridges, especially if they have several towers, can be very similar to suspension bridges, but they are not. In construction, in a suspension bridge many small diameter cables are arranged between the pillars and the ends where they are anchored to the ground or a counterweight. These cables are the primary load-bearing structure of the bridge. Then, before assembling the track, cables are suspended from the main cable, and later it is assembled, supported by said cables. To do this, the track is raised in separate sections and installed. The loads of the track are transmitted to the cables, and from this to the horizontal cable and then to the pillars. The end weights receive a large horizontal force.

In cable-stayed bridges, the loads are transmitted to the central pillar through the cables, but as they are inclined, they are also transmitted through the section itself to the pillar, where it is compensated with the force received on the other side, not with a counterweight at the end. Therefore, they do not require anchors at the ends.

Side pylon cable-stayed bridge

In this type of bridge, the pylon is not located in the same plane as the runway (longitudinal), but rather a little to one side. This design allows bridges to be built with somewhat curved tracks.

Asymmetrical cable-stayed bridge

This type of bridge uses a pillar at one end of the bridge to which the cables reach. These bridges are not very different from normal cable-stayed bridges. The force of the cables can be compensated by continuing them to some counterweights on the ground. The cables can be replaced by pressed concrete pillars working under compression.

Counterweight pylon cable-stayed bridge

It is a bridge similar to the previous one, except that the cables do not continue to the counterweight, but are anchored to the pylon, and the pylon supports the force of the cables, due to its own weight and its anchorage in the ground. One of the pioneers of this design is Santiago Calatrava with the Puente del Alamillo in Seville.

Cable-stayed bridges occupy a middle ground between counterweight and suspension steel bridges. A suspension bridge requires more cables (and more steel), and a counterweight bridge requires more steel for its construction, although from a structural point of view they would be bridges that work in counterweight mode.

This type of bridge is used in medium and large spans with spans ranging from 300 meters to a kilometer, such as in straits and bays, although for spans greater than one kilometer, currently only suspension bridges are used. If the designer considers it and the underlying conditions allow it, cable-stayed bridges with successive spans can be built that span spans greater than one kilometer, as is the case of the Río-Antirio Bridge or the Millau Viaduct. This type of bridge is also used for small pedestrian walkways.

One of the characteristics of these bridges is the number of pylons: there are bridges with only one or several, the most typical thing is that they are built with a pair of towers near the ends. They are also characterized by the shape of the pylons (H shape, inverted Y, A, A closed at the bottom (diamond), a single pile...), and whether the stays are attached to both sides of the track, or if they hold it from the center (two bracing planes or a single one, respectively). The arrangement of the stays is also characteristic, since they can be parallel or convergent (radial) with respect to the area where they are attached to the pylon. They can also have a large number of closely spaced braces, or few and far apart, as in older designs.

Some bridges have the same cables in the pillars in the central span of the bridge as in the end spans, others have more cables in the center span than in the end spans, also known as compensation spans.

Some cable-stayed bridges are mixed bridges, with some cable-stayed spans and others of the beam bridge type, as is the case of the Rande Bridge.

Cable-stayed bridges, especially if they have several towers, can be very similar to suspension bridges, but they are not. In construction, in a suspension bridge many small diameter cables are arranged between the pillars and the ends where they are anchored to the ground or a counterweight. These cables are the primary load-bearing structure of the bridge. Then, before assembling the track, cables are suspended from the main cable, and later it is assembled, supported by said cables. To do this, the track is raised in separate sections and installed. The loads of the track are transmitted to the cables, and from this to the horizontal cable and then to the pillars. The end weights receive a large horizontal force.

In cable-stayed bridges, the loads are transmitted to the central pillar through the cables, but as they are inclined, they are also transmitted through the section itself to the pillar, where it is compensated with the force received on the other side, not with a counterweight at the end. Therefore, they do not require anchors at the ends.

Side pylon cable-stayed bridge

In this type of bridge, the pylon is not located in the same plane as the runway (longitudinal), but rather a little to one side. This design allows bridges to be built with somewhat curved tracks.

Asymmetrical cable-stayed bridge

This type of bridge uses a pillar at one end of the bridge to which the cables reach. These bridges are not very different from normal cable-stayed bridges. The force of the cables can be compensated by continuing them to some counterweights on the ground. The cables can be replaced by pressed concrete pillars working under compression.

Counterweight pylon cable-stayed bridge

It is a bridge similar to the previous one, except that the cables do not continue to the counterweight, but are anchored to the pylon, and the pylon supports the force of the cables, due to its own weight and its anchorage in the ground. One of the pioneers of this design is Santiago Calatrava with the Puente del Alamillo in Seville.