On drawings, a groove weld symbol indicates what feature of the joint?

• A. A groove in the joint
• B. A fillet weld at the join
• C. A plug weld
• D. A seam weld around the edge

Answer: (A)

Groove weld symbols tell you the joint is prepared with a groove that will be welded along its length. This means the pieces meet edge-to-edge or butt-to-butt and are formed with a groove (like V, U, J, or bevel) so the weld fills that groove to achieve proper penetration and strength. The symbol itself communicates that the weld goes into a groove, not just a surface fillet. In contrast, a fillet weld is indicated by a different symbol and sits on the surface at the joint, not requiring a groove. Plug welds and seam welds represent other joint features (holes through a plate or a continuous weld along an edge), so they’re shown with their own symbols.