What type of connection prevents columns and beams from sliding past each other?

The correct answer is a shear connection. Shear connections are designed to resist lateral forces that can cause sliding between structural components like columns and beams. These types of connections typically allow for rotation but do not allow for translational movement, effectively preventing columns and beams from sliding past each other under loading scenarios.

Moment connections, while they do provide rigidity and support the transfer of bending moments between beams and columns, are primarily focused on preventing rotations rather than sliding. Rigid connections also serve to stabilize the framework by resisting movement but are often more complex and can also manage both shear and moments. Composite connections refer to situations where different materials are combined to enhance performance, but they do not specifically focus on preventing sliding.

In summary, shear connections are essential for ensuring that structural components maintain their relative positions in response to various forces, which is why they are the right choice in this context.