Window Regulator
Window regulator is the mechanical assembly that supports a movable door-window pane and controls its path through the door.
How the parts differ
In a power-window system, the regulator converts rotation into glass travel. Cable mechanisms with one or two guide rails are one current design; other mechanisms exist. The pane attachments and regulator carry and guide the glass; they are not the electric motor, gearbox, switches, sensors, or control software.
Some suppliers combine a regulator drive with electronics, but that integration does not make the terms interchangeable. The motor supplies motion, the regulator transfers it to the pane, and a door or body control unit interprets commands and manages functions such as one-touch travel or obstruction detection. A complete power-window system includes all of these elements plus the glass, guides, seals, wiring, and controls.
This distinction matters during diagnosis. Motor noise without normal glass movement can point toward the regulator, its cables, guides, or pane attachments, while silence alone does not identify a regulator fault.
For the deeper system explanation, see Power Windows, Anti-Trap Systems, and Sunshades.