Virtually all sandwiches are constructed from four basic elements:
- Bread
- Spread
- Filling
- Internal garnishes
The bread and filling are the essential elements. In fact, the earliest sandwiches consisted of bread and filling only—and some people still prefer such sandwiches. However, without a spread, most sandwiches have a dry mouth-feel, and without internal garnishes they lack textural contrast. Most modern sandwiches include all four basic elements.