The designs of individual Web pages often, but not always, follow a grid structure which can be described in terms of the columns that seem to predominate.  Even though it is common to have a graphic along the top of a page, under that the page usually has a columnar feel. 

Very often there is a left column with navigational elements and a right column or two that contain content of some kind. It is also common for a graphic or other element to temporarily take up more than one column, but further on down the page the design returns to its original columnar design.

Examples (each opens in a new window):

Two-column structure:  The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art
 

Three-column structure:  EDSITEment, Time Magazine

Four-column The Chicago Tribune , USA Today, NBC

Open structure (no columns): Zen

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