In its simplest form, a battering ram is just a large , heavy log carried by several people and propelled with forces against an obstacle; the ram would be sufficient to damage the target if the log were massive enough and/or it were moved quickly enough, i.e. had enough momentum.

Building a Medieval Battering ram required limited design and building skills.Variations on the battering ram included the drill, the mouse, the pick, and the siege hook. These were smaller than a ram and could be used in more limited spaces.
Battering rams had an important effect on the evolution of defensive walls.