Roof Shingle
Roof shingles are a roof covering consisting of individual overlapping elements. These; are typically flat rectangular shapes laid in rows from the bottom edge of the roof up, with each successive higher row overlapping the joints in the row below. Shingles have been made of various materials such as wood, slate, asbestos-cement, bitumen-soaked paper covered with aggregate (asphalt shingle), composite or ceramic. However, a traditional shingle is made of wood.
How a shingle differs from a tile:
A tile is made of a ceramic material and is hard and brittle, poorly suited for places where tree limbs can fall on a house’s roof, but not subject to deterioration due to rotting. While tiles tend to last much longer than wood or asphalt shingles, they are brittle and prone to fracture. Walking on tiles can break them, requiring replacement or the roof will begin to leak.
WIKIPEDIA ENTRY FOR ROOF SHINGLE.