what is an excavator

An excavator is a large industrial machine used for moving large amounts of material, such as rock and soil. It is a heavy construction equipment consisting of a boom, dipper (or stick), bucket, and cab on a rotating platform known as the "house". The house sits atop an undercarriage with tracks or wheels. Excavators are also called diggers, mechanical shovels, or 360-degree excavators. They are used in many ways, including digging of trenches, holes, and foundations, material handling, brush cutting with hydraulic saw and mower attachments, and many other applications. Excavators are available with either tracks or wheels depending on the manufacturer and the nature of the project. They can also be fitted with various attachments such as hydraulic breakers, cutters, shears, grapples, couplers, augers, hammers, rippers, compactors, and rakes, making them a true multipurpose equipment type. Excavators are used in various industries, including mining, road construction, building construction, demolitions, and river dredging.