How do shield volcanoes differ from composite volcanoes?

Shield volcanoes and composite volcanoes differ significantly in their formation and appearance. Shield volcanoes are broad, gently sloping mountains built by successive outpourings of fluid lava, typically basaltic in composition. Their slopes rarely exceed 6 degrees, and their summits are often flat with craters or calderas.12

In contrast, composite volcanoes, also known as stratovolcanoes, are steep, symmetrical cones formed by alternating layers of lava flows and pyroclastic material. Their composition is generally andesitic, and their eruptions often begin with ash explosions followed by viscous lava flows. This results in a steeper, more concave slope leading to a sharp summit peak.34