The rack is a torture device. It consists of a rectangular, usually wooden frame, with a roller at one end. The victim's feet are tied to one end of the frame, and the wrists are tied to ropes attached to the roller. As the interrogation progresses, a handle and ratchet attached to the roller is used to stepwise increase the tension on the ropes, which quickly induces excruciating pain as the victim's joints slowly dislocate.

One gruesome aspect of being stretched on the rack are the loud popping noises made by snapping cartilage, ligaments or bones. Eventually, if the application of the rack is continued, the victim's limbs are ripped right off. One powerful method for putting pressure upon a prisoner was to merely force him to view someone else being subjected to the rack.

• See also the Hippocratic bench, an ancient device resembling a rack, but used for medical treatment.