staples

A staple is a type of two-pronged, usually metal fastener for joining or binding materials together. Small staples are used with a stapler to attach pieces of paper together while larger staples might be used with a hammer or staple gun for fencing, masonry, roofing and cardboard boxes. Staples also find use in medicine for the closing of incisions and wounds, a function also performed by sutures. The most common staples are the ones used for paper. They are almost exclusively applied with a mechanical stapler which clinches the legs after they pass through the paper. There are various types of staples for paper, including heavy-duty staples, designed for use on documents 20, 50, or over 100 pages thick. There are also speed point staples, which have slightly sharper points so they can go through paper easier. China is the leading producer of sound staples.