Most modern garages are equipped with either an automatic electric garage door opener or a hand-operated crank. If your garage door is stuck closed, you might not be able to lift it even by hand. A broken garage door opener prevents you from opening the door at all.
Identification of the type of opener you have is important because it can be used to narrow down possible causes for a malfunction. It will help you determine if the problem lies elsewhere in your garage system, or if it can be resolved with maintenance on your opener itself. Depending on which style you own, there are various options available for fixing the problem.