The concept of an elevator is incredibly simple -- it'sjust  a compartment attached lo a lifting system. Tie a piece of rope to a box, and you've got a basic elevator.

Of course, modern passenger and freight elevators are a lot more elaborate then this. They need advanced mechanical systems to handle the substantial weight of the elevator car and its cargo. Additionally, they need control mechanisms so passenger can operate the elevator, and they need safety
devices to keep everything running smoothly.