How many times have you pulled a zipper open or closed? There’s no way to even count!  Zippers have become such a part of our everyday lives that operating one is just like second nature. However, few people are aware of the separate components that make up the zipper.

Here are simplified definitions of all the parts of a zipper to help you determine which type is best for your needs:

The slider is the device that either opens or closes the zipper.

Connected to the slider, this is the physical part that you grasp to pull the slider.

Also known as elements, the teeth are the individual parts that join together to form a closed zipper, or separate when a zipper is opened.

When a zipper is closed, the teeth mesh together to form a chain.

This refers to tape that extends past the top and/or bottom of the chain.

The tape of a zipper is the fabric to which the teeth are connected.

The width of the tape can vary depending on what the zipper will be used for.

The top stop is two separate pieces attached to the top of the chain that keeps the slider from coming off of the chain.

Similar to the top stop, a bottom stop is only one device at the bottom of the chain that keeps the slider from coming off of the chain.

On a separating zipper, such as one you would find on a jacket, the pin is the slim piece that allows for the two zipper halves to be connected.

The box is where the pin is inserted to successfully join two zipper halves.

This refers to the laminated material found at the very bottom of the tape of a separating zipper to provide strength and durability.