Editing Mask (section)

== Functional masks ==
{{for|other functional masks}}
Masks are also familiar as pieces of kit associated with practical functions, usually protective, including in sports and during plagues:

=== Medical ===
[[File:200403-N-PH222-1006 (49745621613).jpg|thumb|A person dons [[personal protective equipment|PPE]] and a [[N95 respirator#Surgical N95|surgical N95]] in a hospital]]
[[File:Lễ hội La Vân.jpg|thumb|Vietnamese youth wear surgical masks during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]]]
Some masks are used for medical purposes:
* [[N95 respirator]], used for the prevention of [[tuberculosis]] and other [[pathogens]]
** [[FFP2]], European equivalent
* [[Oxygen mask]], a piece of medical equipment that assists breathing.
* [[Anesthetic mask]].
* [[Burn mask]], a piece of medical equipment that protects the burn tissue from contact with other surfaces, and minimises the risk of infection.
* [[Surgical mask]], a tool for [[Source control (respiratory disease)|respiratory source control]].
* [[Face shield]], to protect a medical professional from bodily fluids.
* [[Pocket mask]] or ''CPR mask'', used to safely deliver rescue breaths during a cardiac arrest or respiratory arrest.
* [[Cloth face mask]], an alternative to respirators and surgical masks during shortages.

=== Protective ===
[[File:Police officer wearing half-mask respirator.jpg|thumb|Protective [[elastomeric respirator|reusable filter mask]] worn by [[NYPD]] officer]]
Protective masks are pieces of kit or equipment worn on the head and face to afford protection to the wearer, and today usually have these functions:
* Providing a supply of air or filtering the outside air ([[respirator]]s and [[dust mask]]s).
* Protecting the face against flying objects or dangerous environments, while allowing vision.

In Roman [[gladiator]]ial tournaments masks were sometimes used. From archaeological evidence it is clear that these were not only protective but also helped make the wearer appear more intimidating. In [[medieval]] Europe and in Japan soldiers and [[samurai]] wore similarly ferocious-looking protective [[armour]], extending to face-masks.

In the 16th century, the [[Visard]] was worn by women to protect from [[sunburn]]. Today this function is attributed to thin balaclavas.

In sport the protective mask will often have a secondary function to make the wearer appear more impressive as a competitor.

Before strong transparent materials such as [[polycarbonate]] were invented, [[visor]]s to protect the face had to be opaque with small eyeslits, and were a sort of mask, as often in mediaeval suits of [[armour]], and (for example) [[Old Norse]] ''grímr'' meant "mask or visor".

=== Disguise ===
[[File:Balaclava 3 hole black.jpg|thumb|A [[Ribbing (knitting)|rib knit]] three-hole balaclava allows the wearer to protect the face against cold air or hinder [[Recognition of human individuals|recognition]]]]
[[File:London QVS April 12 2008 0010 Anons.jpg|thumb|Members of ''[[Anonymous (group)|Anonymous]]'' wear Guy Fawkes masks while protesting against the [[Church of Scientology]], 2008, London]]
Masks are sometimes used to avoid [[Recognition of human individuals|recognition]]. As a disguise the mask acts as a form of protection for the wearer who wishes to assume a role or task without being identified by others.
* [[Robber]]s and other criminal perpetrators may wear masks as a means in concealing their faces and thus identities from their victims and from law enforcement.
* Occasionally a [[witness]] for the [[prosecution]] appears in [[court]] in a mask to avoid being recognized by associates of the accused.
* Participants in a [[black bloc]] at [[protest]]s usually wear masks, often [[kerchief|bandannas]], to avoid recognition, and to try to protect against any [[riot control agent]]s used.
* In fiction, [[Superhero|superheroes]] and [[Supervillain|supervillains]] often wear masks or [[wikt:cowl|cowls]] for protection and to [[brand]] themselves.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aitchison |first=Sean |date=2017-05-12 |title=The 15 COOLEST Masks In Comics |url=https://www.cbr.com/most-absolute-coolest-masks-in-comics/ |access-date=2024-04-18 |website=CBR |language=en}}</ref>
Masks are also used to prevent recognition while showing membership of a group:
* Masks are use by penitents in ceremonies to disguise their identity in order to make the act of penitence more selfless. The [[Semana Santa]] parades throughout Spain and in [[Hispanic]] or [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] countries throughout the world are examples of this, with their cone-shaped masks known as [[capirote]].
* Masks are used by [[vigilante]] groups.
* The cone-shaped mask in particular is identified with the [[Ku Klux Klan]] in a self-conscious effort to combine the hiding of personal identity with the promotion of a powerful and intimidating image.
* Members of the group [[Anonymous (group)|Anonymous]] frequently wear masks (usually [[Guy Fawkes mask]]s, best known from ''[[V for Vendetta]]'') when they attend protests.
While the [[niqāb]] usually shows membership of some [[Islam]]ic community, its purpose is not to hinder recognition, although it falls under some [[anti-mask laws]] such as the [[French ban on face covering]].

=== Occupational ===
{{see also|NIOSH air filtration rating|FFP standards|breathing apparatus}}
* Beaked masks containing herbs in the beak were worn in [[early modern Europe]] by plague doctors<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.exn.ca/news/images/1998/06/17/19980617-plaguedoctor.jpg | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061016155422/http://www.exn.ca/news/images/1998/06/17/19980617-plaguedoctor.jpg |archive-date=16 October 2006 | publisher = Discovery Channel Canada |title=plaguedoctor}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=January 2021}} to try to ward off the [[Black Death]].
* [[Filter mask]], a piece of safety equipment.
* [[Fullface mask|Full-face diving mask]] as part of [[self-contained breathing apparatus]] for divers and others; some let the wearer talk to others through a built-in communication device
* [[Respirator]] (gas or particulate mask), a mask worn on the face to protect the body from airborne pollutants and toxic materials, and fine [[particulate matter]] or infectious particles.
* [[Oxygen mask]] worn by high-altitude pilots, or used in medicine to deliver oxygen, anesthetic, or other gases to patients
* [[Welding mask]] to protect the welder's face and eyes from the brightness and sparks created during welding

=== Sports ===
[[File:20081122 Brandon Graham and Terrell Pryor.jpg|right|thumb|An American football player wearing a mask that protects his face from another player's hand]]
* [[American football protective equipment#Helmet|American football helmet face mask]]
* [[Balaclava (clothing)|Balaclava]], also known as a "ski mask", to protect the face against cold air.
* [[Baseball]] catcher's mask.
* [[Diving mask]], an item of diving equipment that allows scuba divers, free-divers, and snorkelers to see clearly underwater.
* [[Fencing]] mask.
* [[Goaltender mask]], a mask worn by an [[ice hockey|ice]] or [[field hockey]] goaltender to protect the head and face from injury.
* [[Hurling]] helmets were made mandatory in 2010, and have a wire mask on the front to protect the player's face.
* [[Kendo]], a mask called ''Men'' is used in this Japanese sword-fighting martial art.
* [[Paintball mask]].
* [[Visor (ice hockey)]].

An interesting example of a sports mask that confounds the protective function is the [[wrestling mask]], a mask most widely used in the Mexican/Latin [[lucha libre]] style of wrestling. In modern lucha libre, masks are colourfully designed to evoke the images of animals, [[deity|gods]], ancient [[hero]]es, and other [[archetypes]]. The mask is considered "sacred" to some degree, placing its role closer to the ritual and performance function.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://media.www.thedailyaztec.com/media/storage/paper741/news/2002/12/05/Tempo/Who-Was.That.Masked.Man-758787-page2.shtml | url-status = dead | title = Who Was That Masked Man? | first = Stacy | last = Brandt | date = October 12, 2008 | work = The Daily Aztec | publisher = San Diego State University | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212190019/http://www.thedailyaztec.com/2.7443/1.810061-1.810061 |archive-date=12 February 2009 }}</ref>