What type of structural component connects members at the joints?

The correct answer, gussets, are specialized structural components that serve to reinforce and connect various members at the joints, particularly in truss systems. Gussets are often made of wood, metal, or other durable materials and are designed to provide additional support, stability, and rigidity at points where different structural members meet. By effectively distributing loads and reducing the risk of joint failure, gussets enhance the overall performance of the structure.

Bracing, while also a form of structural support, primarily serves to add stability against lateral forces rather than connecting members at joints specifically. Trusses are larger frameworks that consist of interconnected structural elements but are not themselves connectors; they work in tandem with gussets. Beams are horizontal structural elements that support loads but do not typically function as connectors at joints. Thus, because gussets specifically address the connection of members at their joints, they are the most appropriate answer in this context.