Acorn Nuts - a nut with a domed head that covers the external threads of the fastener.

Acoustical Lag Screw - used for attaching objects to the ceiling.

Anchor Bolts - used for connecting elements to concrete.

Annealed - a process where the fastener is heated and then cooled slowly, making it tougher and reduces its hardness.

Ball Bearing - balls used to allow movement while reducing friction and creating separation.

Bearing - there are a variety of different types of bearings, but they are used to enable movement and transfer force.

Bearing Surface - the area of contact between two surfaces. Most commonly the underside of the head of the fastener and the part being fastened to.

Blind Rivet - a two-component fastener that is used to connect materials when there is no access to the rear.

Bolt - a threaded fastener, that when paired with a nut, holds two objects together.

Brad Nail - small, thin nails used for light carpentry and woodworking.

Break-Off Screws - a screw designed with breaks about every 1/4 inch that allow you to snap off the end to make the screw the size you need. They are commonly used in cabinetry work.

Cap Screw - also known as a hex bolt, are used for heavy duty fastening applications and are adjusted using an allen wrench or hex key. They feature a cylindrical shaped head and hexagon socket.

Carbon Steel - tough reliable fastener material with a low carbon content.

Carriage Bolt - threaded bolt that typically features a round head and flat tip.

Class - the measurement of the properties and strength of metric fasteners.

Clevis Pin - a pin with holes in the end to attach a cotter pin.

Compression Spring - round spring wire wound to resist compression.

Concealed Head - a fastener that cannot be seen from the reverse side once installed.

Core Hardness - the hardness of metal at its center.

Cotter Pin - also called split pin, is used to secure a bolt or fastener in place.

Countersunk Head - a fastener head that sits slightly below the surface.

Coupling Nut - used for joining two male threads, most often rods.

Drop-In Anchor - a female anchor that is dropped into a hole drilled into concrete.

Dowel Screw - a headless fastener threaded on both ends used to join two pieces of wood.

Dowel Pin - a headless metal rod used to join two components together.  Commonly used in woodworking.

Drilled Head - a screw with a hole drilled in the head to allow wire or cable to be passed thru.

Elevator Bolt - a threaded bolt with a thin head used in elevator and conveyor belt applications.

Expansion Shield Anchor - a masonry anchor that expands when tightened.

Extension Spring - a spring that absorbs and stores energy to create a pulling force between two materials or components.

Eye Bolt - a bolt with a loop at the end to attach rope or chain. Commonly used in a variety of lifting applications.

Fastener - a piece of hardware designed to hold two or more objects together.

Fender Washer - a wide diameter washer used to protect surfaces and distribute the load of the fastener.

Ferry Cap Screw - screw designed with a 12-point socket shaped head that allow for greater torque.

Finish - the coating or protective layer applied to the surface of the fastener.

Finishing Washer - washers that provide a flush surface while distributing the load of the fastener.

Flange Bolt - a hex bolt with a washer built into the head.

Flange Nut - a nut with an integrated washer (flange) at one end.

Flat Head - a flat top fastener with a tapered body, designed to be countersunk to create a seamless look.

Flat Washer - a thin, flat plate with a hole in the middle for a bolt to pass thru that spreads the load of the fastener.

Friction - the resistance created between two surfaces when the fastener is tightened.

Galvanized - a zinc coating on a fastener that prevents rust and corrosion.

Hanger Bolt - a bolt with different threads at both ends. One side has a lag screw thread to go into wood and the other side has a machine screw thread that goes into a metal plate or insert. They are commonly used to attach furniture legs.

Hardened - a heat process that improves the performance of the fastener.

Head Diameter - the diameter at the largest part of the fastener head.

Head Style - the type of head on a fastener. Most commonly hex head or round head.

Hex Lag Screw - hex head fastener with coarse threads.

Hollow Wall Anchor - an anchor that flares out when inserted into a hollow wall.

Insert Nut - a threaded socket that is inserted into a pre-drilled hole and supports a bolt for a stronger connection.

Internal Thread - threads on a nuts and tapped holes.

Jack Nut - nuts designed to be inserted from one side that join thin or fragile materials.

Jam Nut - a nut about half the height of a standard nut used to lock or "jam" another nut to lock them in place.

Knurled Nut - a nut with a textured outer surface used when the nut needs to be removed often but structural support is not important.

Lock Nut - a nut that resists loosening and force over time.

Lock Washer - washers that create tension to resist loosening over time.

Malleable Washer - used in wood and marine applications, designed with a large bearing surface that prevents the fasteners from pulling into the wood.

Nickel Plated - a thin coating of nickel that is applied to the fastener to resist corrosion.

Non-Ferrous - fasteners with a very low or no iron content.

Pan Head - a screw with a head shaped like an upside-down pan.

Pitch - the distance between threads on a fastener.

Plating - applying a thin metal coating on a fastener thru either a chemical process or electrical currents.

Plow Bolt - a threaded fastener with a tapered head used in industrial equipment.

Pocket Screw - used with pocket holes in woodworking to create strong joints.

Prevailing Torque - the torque required to overcome friction or resistance of rotation in a threaded fastener.

Property Class - a designation system for metric fasteners which indicates their strength.

Push Nut - a nut that creates a vice like grip on a tubes, shafts and studs. The grip is so strong that often times it takes destroying the nut to remove it.

Reverse Thread - a fastener that is threaded in an anticlockwise direction often referred to as a left-hand thread. They must be turned counterclockwise to tighten them.

Rolled Thread - a fastener where the thread is formed by rolling it between two dies rather than cutting them. They offer increased strength, and greater thread profile and dimensional accuracy.

Screw Thread - the spiral ridge or form around the cylinder of the screw.

Self-Locking - a fastener that is designed with a built-in locking mechanism preventing loosening without the use of a lock nut or lock washer.

Set Screw - a threaded fastener without a head that is used in securing collars, gears and shafts.

Shank - the area of the fastener between the head and the thread.

Shoulder Bolt - bolts with slotted or hexagon shaped heads that allow parts to rotate around its head or slide along its length due to their smooth shoulder and cylindrical shaft.

Sleeve Anchor - often referred to as Expansion Anchors, is used for attaching objects to concrete, brick or masonry. They are designed with a sleeve, stud, nut and washer where the sleeve expands when the nut is tightened creating a secure bond.

Socket Cap Screw - a fastener with a cylindrical head and hexagon shaped socket generally used in tight spaces. 

Spring Nut - nuts designed with spring loaded tabs that grip the surface for a secure connection. They utilize tension and compression and eliminate the need for manual tightening.

Square Washer - a large washer with a square shape that has a hole in the middle commonly used in the construction industry when fastening wood to spread the tightening load.

Symmetrical Thread -fasteners where both sides of the thread are angled at the same degree.

Tap Bolt - fastener featuring a hexagonal head and fully threaded shank used with metal components or machinery applications.

Tensile Strength - the maximum amount of tensile force a fastener can withstand before breaking.

Thread - the projecting helical ridge on either the internal or external surface of a fastener.

Thread Cutting Screw - screws that displace material and create their own threads as they are driven into a material.

Thread Flank - the angled slopes of an individual thread on a fastener.

Thread Height - the distance from the crest to the root of a thread on a fastener.

Thread Length - the distance or length of threads along a fastener.

Thumb Screw - a fastener with a large head that can be fastened by hand.

Toggle Anchor - used for mounting items on drywall where there is no stud. The spring activated wings open when pushed thru a hole in the drywall and are tightened by a bolt.

Torque - the amount of twisting force required to thread fasteners together.

Torsion - the amount of twisting force used when tightening a bolt.

Washer - a thin plate with a hole that is used to distribute the fastener load.

Wing Nut - a nut designed with "wings" that can be tightened by hand.

Yield Point - the point where the stress placed on a fastener exceeds its performance capability.

Yield Strength - the maximum load a fastener can handle before it begins to permanently deform.

Zinc Electroplated - fasteners coated with a thin layer of zinc thru a chemical bath process called electroplating, that allows the fastener to resist corrosion.

Zinc Phosphate - a crystalline conversion coating applied to a fastener to resist corrosion.