Fastener is a term applied to anything that can be used for mechanically securing objects together. The term most often refers to a hardware device, though adhesives used in construction can fall into this category. Most products today are made up of lots of smaller parts. It is fasteners that keep all of these parts together as one unified whole. Without fasteners, we'd quite literally be in pieces.

Here are some of the major categories of fasteners.

Nails and Screws

These are probably some of the most common fasteners you will come across; they are also among the most versatile and can be used in a variety of jobs. There are different types of nails (including clout, uni-nail and annular) and screws (such as laminating, drill point and needle point) so be sure you purchase the right kind for your project.

Nuts, Bolts and Washers

Passing through a hole on one side, bolts are threaded fasteners that are held in place by nuts. A washer is a small disc with a hole in the middle. They are used as spacers and to support the load of a threaded fastener (like a bolt). Nuts and bolts are used to hold together temporary and permanent structures.

Clamps

Clamps are most often used in a temporary fashion. They are used to hold or secure an object and prevent it from moving while it is being worked on. For example, you might use a clamp to secure some pieces of wood you have glued together.


Adhesive

Using stud or masonry adhesive can reduce the number of nails or screws you use on a particular project. The adhesive will reduce the number of nails that pop and help fill in space. When working with wood, you will still need to use screws or nails with adhesive.


Other fasteners include buckles, rivets, clips, pins, grommets and staples.