Editing Lock and key

{{short description|Mechanical or electronic fastening device}}
{{other uses|Lock and Key (disambiguation)}}
[[File:Solex 99 30 padlock with keys (DSCF2659).jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|A typical modern [[padlock]] and its keys]]
A '''lock''' is a [[mechanics|mechanical]] or [[Electronics|electronic]] fastening device that is released by a physical object (such as a key, [[Keycard lock|keycard]], [[fingerprint]], [[Radio-frequency identification|RFID]] card, [[security token]] or coin), by supplying secret information (such as a number or letter permutation or [[password]]), by a combination thereof, or it may only be able to be opened from one side, such as a door chain.

A '''key''' is a device that is used to operate a lock (to lock or unlock it). A typical key is a small piece of metal consisting of two parts: the ''[[Bit (key)|bit]]'' or ''blade'', which slides into the [[keyhole|keyway]] of the lock and distinguishes between different keys, and the ''bow'', which is left protruding so that torque can be applied by the user. In its simplest implementation, a key operates one lock or set of locks that are keyed alike, a lock/key system where each similarly keyed lock requires the same, unique key.

The key serves as a [[security token]] for access to the locked area; locks are meant to only allow persons having the correct key to open it and gain access. In more complex mechanical lock/key systems, two different keys, one of which is known as the master key, serve to open the lock.  Common metals include [[brass]], plated brass, [[nickel silver]], and [[steel]]. The act of opening a lock without a key is called [[lock picking]].

== History ==
[[File:Scorpion Lock, Bronze from Nalanda, Bihar, dating from 10th century A.D..jpg|thumb|Bronze lock in the form of a scorpion, from [[Nalanda]], India, 10th century]]

=== Premodern history ===
{{Expand German|Schlüssel#Geschichte_von_Schloss_und_Schlüssel|date=May 2025}}
[[File:Lock MET cdi55-61-5.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Middle Ages|Medieval]] [[Gothic art|Gothic]] lock, from the 15th–16th centuries, made of iron, in the [[Metropolitan Museum of Art]] (New York City)]]
Locks have been in use for over 6000 years, with one early example discovered in the ruins of [[Nineveh]], the capital of ancient [[Assyria]].<ref name=":0">{{cite book|last=de Vries, N. Cross and D. P. Grant|first=M. J.|title=Design Methodology and Relationships with Science: Introduction|year=1992|publisher=Kluwer Academic Publishers|location=Eindhoven|page=32|isbn=9780792321910|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4T8U_J1h7noC|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161024091334/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=4T8U_J1h7noC|archive-date=2016-10-24}}</ref> Locks such as this were developed into the [[Egypt]]ian wooden [[pin tumbler lock|pin lock]], which consisted of a bolt, door fixture or attachment, and key. When the key was inserted, pins within the fixture were lifted out of drilled holes within the bolt, allowing it to move. When the key was removed, the pins fell part-way into the bolt, preventing movement.<ref>{{cite book|last=Ceccarelli|first=Marco|title=International Symposium on History of Machines and Mechanisms|year=2004|publisher=Kluwer Academic Publishers|location=New York|isbn=1402022034|page=43|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UG0RlFBqwrgC|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161024091439/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=UG0RlFBqwrgC|archive-date=2016-10-24}}</ref>

The [[warded lock]] was also present from antiquity and remains the most recognizable lock and key design in the Western world. The first all-metal locks appeared between the years 870 and 900, and are attributed to English craftsmen.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.locks.ru/germ/informat/schlagehistory.htm |title=History |publisher=Locks.ru |access-date=2010-06-10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420042859/http://www.locks.ru/germ/informat/schlagehistory.htm |archive-date=2010-04-20 }}</ref> It is also said that the key was invented by [[Theodorus of Samos]] in the 6th century BC.<ref name=":0" />

The Romans invented metal locks and keys and the system of security provided by wards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/technology/key-lock-device|title=Key {{!}} lock device|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|access-date=2020-01-13|archive-date=2021-12-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211224102955/https://www.britannica.com/technology/key-lock-device|url-status=live}}</ref>

Affluent Romans often kept their valuables in secure locked boxes within their households, and wore the keys as rings on their fingers. The practice had two benefits: It kept the key handy at all times, while signaling that the wearer was wealthy and important enough to have money and jewellery worth securing.<ref name=":1">{{cite journal |url=http://www.slate.com/slideshows/life/the-history-of-key-design.html#slide_4 |title=History |journal=Slate |date=15 May 2012 |publisher=Slate Magazine |access-date=2012-12-09 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121209004835/http://www.slate.com/slideshows/life/the-history-of-key-design.html#slide_4 |archive-date=2012-12-09 }}</ref>
[[File:Dronkenmansslot.jpg|thumb|Drunk man's lock at the bottom (black lock) and a regular modern lock at the top]]
A special type of lock, dating back to the 17th–18th century, although potentially older as similar locks date back to the 14th century, can be found in the [[Beguinage]] of the Belgian city [[Lier, Belgium|Lier]].<ref name="De Bruyn">R. De Bruyn, ‘Oude sloten op deurtjes in het Liers begijnhof’, in: 't land van Ryen jaargang 17, aflevering 3–4, 1967, p. 158, article in Dutch</ref><ref name=nieuwsblad>[https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20180416_03466625?articlehash=E3E3365E41E23D3A2A3536DD89F68F275E018F95FE5BDE04E82450A16EC2F1FE97D61A36A039250260D7A2B654121AC3FEFDC9502EAC83383F1EB001265E80E0 Echtpaar schrijft eerste boek sinds twintig jaar over Liers begijnhof] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221107010211/https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20180416_03466625?articlehash=E3E3365E41E23D3A2A3536DD89F68F275E018F95FE5BDE04E82450A16EC2F1FE97D61A36A039250260D7A2B654121AC3FEFDC9502EAC83383F1EB001265E80E0 |date=2022-11-07 }} nieuwsblad.be, Chris van Rompaey, 17 april 2018, article in Dutch</ref> These locks are most likely Gothic locks, that were decorated with foliage, often in a V-shape surrounding the keyhole.<ref>[https://www.historicallocks.com/en/site/h/historicallocks/dictionary/ Dictionary, Lexicon of locks and keys] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527060813/https://www.historicallocks.com/en/site/h/historicallocks/dictionary/ |date=2023-05-27 }} historicallocks.com</ref> They are often called ''drunk man's lock'', as these locks were, according to certain sources, designed in such a way a person can still find the keyhole in the dark, although this might not be the case as the ornaments might have been purely aesthetic.<ref name="De Bruyn"/><ref name=nieuwsblad/> In more recent times similar locks have been designed.<ref>[https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/c6/09/e4/f98674353c3e84/US5109686.pdf United States patent keyhole guide for locks and method of using the same] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407140307/https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/c6/09/e4/f98674353c3e84/US5109686.pdf |date=2020-04-07 }} patentimages, Eugene Toussant, 1990</ref><ref>[https://www.wired.com/2010/05/v-lock-helps-drunks-get-home-to-bed/ V-Lock Helps Drunks Get Home to Bed] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407140306/https://www.wired.com/2010/05/v-lock-helps-drunks-get-home-to-bed/ |date=2020-04-07 }} wired.com, Charlie Sorrel, 5 April 2010</ref>

===Modern locks===
[[File:Tibetan Lock and key - Dhankhar Gompa, Spiti. 2004.jpg|thumb|Tibetan Lock and key – [[Dhankhar]] Gompa, [[Spiti]]. India. 2004]]
[[File:Chinese lock.JPG|thumb|Chinese lock and key from [[Yunnan Province]], early 20th century|alt=]]
[[File:Key anatomy.jpg|thumb|Key anatomy]]
With the onset of the [[Industrial Revolution]] in the late 18th century and the concomitant development of precision engineering and component standardization, locks and keys were manufactured with increasing complexity and sophistication.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Abreha |first1=Kaleb G. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_71VEAAAQBAJ&dq=With+the+onset+of+the+Industrial+Revolution+Locks+and+keys+were+manufactured+with+increasing+complexity+and+sophistication.&pg=PT77 |title=Industrialization in Sub-Saharan Africa: Seizing Opportunities in Global Value Chains |last2=Kassa |first2=Woubet |last3=Lartey |first3=Emmanuel K. K. |last4=Mengistae |first4=Taye A. |last5=Zeufack |first5=Albert G. |date=2021-12-18 |publisher=World Bank Publications |isbn=978-1-4648-1721-2 |language=en |access-date=2022-05-18 |archive-date=2023-11-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110054823/https://books.google.com/books?id=_71VEAAAQBAJ&dq=With+the+onset+of+the+Industrial+Revolution+Locks+and+keys+were+manufactured+with+increasing+complexity+and+sophistication.&pg=PT77#v=onepage&q=With%20the%20onset%20of%20the%20Industrial%20Revolution%20Locks%20and%20keys%20were%20manufactured%20with%20increasing%20complexity%20and%20sophistication.&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[lever tumbler lock]], which uses a set of levers to prevent the bolt from moving in the lock, was invented by [[Robert Barron (locksmith)|Robert Barron]] in 1778.<ref name=EB1911>{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Lock |volume=16 |pages=841–844 |first=Arthur Brunel |last=Chatwood}}</ref> His double acting lever lock required the lever to be lifted to a certain height by having a slot cut in the lever, so lifting the lever too far was as bad as not lifting the lever far enough. This type of lock is still used today.<ref>{{cite book|last=Pulford|first=Graham W.|title=High-Security Mechanical Locks : An Encyclopedic Reference|url=https://archive.org/details/highsecuritymech00pulf_549|url-access=limited|year=2007|publisher=Elsevier|isbn=978-0-7506-8437-8|page=[https://archive.org/details/highsecuritymech00pulf_549/page/n331 317]}}</ref>

[[Image:Chubb lock.jpg|thumb|Diagram of a [[Chubb detector lock]]]]
The lever tumbler lock was greatly improved by [[Jeremiah Chubb]] in 1818.<ref name=EB1911/> A burglary in [[HMNB Portsmouth|Portsmouth Dockyard]] prompted the [[Government of the United Kingdom|British Government]] to announce a competition to produce a lock that could be opened only with its own key.<ref name=":1" /> Chubb developed the [[Chubb detector lock]], which incorporated an [[Combination lock#Internal mechanisms|integral security feature]] that could frustrate unauthorized access attempts and would indicate to the lock's owner if it had been interfered with. Chubb was awarded £100 after a trained [[Lock picking|lock-picker]] failed to break the lock after 3 months.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wolverhamptonhistory.org.uk/work/industry/lock_making2|title=Lock Making: Chubb & Son's Lock & Safe Co Ltd|publisher=Wolverhampton City Council|year=2005|access-date=16 November 2006|archive-date=10 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110131835/http://www.wolverhamptonhistory.org.uk/work/industry/lock_making2|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1820, Jeremiah joined his brother [[Charles Chubb (businessman)|Charles]] in starting their own lock company, [[Chubb Locks|Chubb]]. Chubb made various improvements to his lock: his 1824 improved design did not require a special regulator key to reset the lock; by 1847 his keys used six levers rather than four; and he later introduced a disc that allowed the key to pass but narrowed the field of view, hiding the levers from anybody attempting to pick the lock.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Roper, C.A. |author2=Phillips, Bill |name-list-style=amp |year=2001|title=The Complete Book of Locks and Locksmithing|publisher=McGraw-Hill Publishing|isbn=0-07-137494-9}}</ref> The Chubb brothers also received a patent for the first burglar-resisting [[safe]] and began production in 1835.

The designs of Barron and Chubb were based on the use of movable levers, but [[Joseph Bramah]], a prolific inventor, developed an alternative method in 1784. His lock used a cylindrical key with precise notches along the surface; these moved the metal slides that impeded the turning of the bolt into an exact alignment, allowing the lock to open. The lock was at the limits of the precision manufacturing capabilities of the time and was said by its inventor to be unpickable. In the same year Bramah started the Bramah Locks company at 124 Piccadilly, and displayed the "Challenge Lock" in the window of his shop from 1790, challenging "...the artist who can make an instrument that will pick or open this lock" for the reward of £200. The challenge stood for over 67 years until, at the [[Great Exhibition]] of 1851, the American locksmith [[Alfred Charles Hobbs]] was able to open the lock and, following some argument about the circumstances under which he had opened it, was awarded the prize. Hobbs' attempt required some 51 hours, spread over 16 days.

The earliest patent for a double-acting [[pin tumbler lock]] was granted to American physician Abraham O. Stansbury in England in 1805,<ref>{{cite book|title=The Complete Book of Home, Site, and Office Security: Selecting, Installing, and Troubleshooting Systems and Devices|year=2006|publisher=McGraw-Hill Professional|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=05ITGwH8rV8C&q=Abraham+O.+Stansbury+and+pin+tumbler+lock&pg=PA11|page=11|isbn=9780071467445|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121072851/https://books.google.com/books?id=05ITGwH8rV8C&pg=PA11&dq=Abraham+O.+Stansbury+and+pin+tumbler+lock&hl=en&sa=X&ei=shDiT-2pMofO9QTf66CHCA&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=Abraham%20O.%20Stansbury%20and%20pin%20tumbler%20lock&f=false|archive-date=2016-11-21}}</ref> but the modern version, still in use today, was invented by American [[Linus Yale Sr.]] in 1848.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Geek Atlas: 128 Places Where Science and Technology Come Alive|year=2009|publisher=O'Reilly Media, Inc.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HhEC0q-O1ewC&q=Linus+Yale%2C+Sr.+modern+pin+tumbler+lock&pg=PA445|page=445|isbn=9780596555627|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160501062428/https://books.google.com/books?id=HhEC0q-O1ewC&pg=PA445&lpg=PA445&dq=Linus+Yale,+Sr.+modern+pin+tumbler+lock&source=bl&ots=MhDEksIeaw&sig=HqrCbHyFvLDC2BN5Mzt4SiFby_w&hl=en&sa=X&ei=r4PiT-vyCIn-8ATL57iGCA&ved=0CGIQ6AEwATgK#v=onepage&q=Linus%20Yale%2C%20Sr.%20modern%20pin%20tumbler%20lock&f=false|archive-date=2016-05-01}}</ref> This lock design used [[pin]]s of varying lengths to prevent the lock from opening without the correct key. In 1861, [[Linus Yale Jr.]] was inspired by the original 1840s pin-tumbler lock designed by his father, thus inventing and patenting a smaller flat key with serrated edges as well as pins of varying lengths within the lock itself, the same design of the pin-tumbler lock which still remains in use today.<ref>{{cite web|title=Inventor of the Week Archive|publisher=Massachusetts Institute of Technology|url=http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/yale.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529222941/http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/yale.html|archive-date=2013-05-29}}</ref> The modern Yale lock is essentially a more developed version of the Egyptian lock.

Despite some improvement in key design since, the majority of locks today are still variants of the designs invented by Bramah, Chubb and Yale.

== Types of lock ==
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Bicycle lock]]
* [[Latch (hardware)#Cam lock|Cam lock]]
* [[Gun safety#Locks|Chamber lock]]
* [[Child safety lock]]
* [[Chubb detector lock]]
* [[Combination lock]]
* [[Cylinder lock]]
* [[Dead bolt]]
* [[Disc tumbler lock]]
* [[Electric strike]]
* [[Electromagnetic lock]]
* [[Electronic lock]]
* [[Lever tumbler lock]]
* [[Luggage lock]]
* [[Magnetic keyed lock]]
* [[Mortise lock]]
* [[Padlock]]
* [[Pin tumbler lock]]
* [[Police lock]]
* [[Protector lock]]
* [[Rim lock]]
* [[Time lock]]
* [[Warded lock]]
{{div col end}}

===With physical keys===
<gallery mode="packed" heights="150px" class="center">
Pin tumbler no key.svg|Pin tumbler lock: without a key in the lock, the driver pins (blue) are pushed downwards, preventing the plug (yellow) from rotating.
Disc tumbler locked.png|Wafer tumbler lock: without a key in the lock, the wafers (red) are pushed down by springs. The wafers nestle into a groove in the lower part of the outer cylinder (green) preventing the plug (yellow) from rotating.
Tubular locked.png|Tubular lock: the key pins (red) and driver pins (blue) are pushed towards the front of the lock, preventing the plug (yellow) from rotating. The tubular key has several half-cylinder indentations which align with the pins.
</gallery>
A [[warded lock]] uses a set of obstructions, or wards, to prevent the lock from opening unless the correct key is inserted. The key has notches or slots that correspond to the obstructions in the lock, allowing it to rotate freely inside the lock. Warded locks are typically reserved for low-security applications as a well-designed [[skeleton key]] can successfully open a wide variety of warded locks.

The [[pin tumbler lock]] uses a set of pins to prevent the lock from opening unless the correct key is inserted. The key has a series of grooves on either side of the key's blade that limit the type of lock the key can slide into. As the key slides into the lock, the horizontal grooves on the blade align with the [[Warded lock|wards]] in the [[Keyhole|keyway]] allowing or denying entry to the [[Cylinder (geometry)|cylinder]]. A series of pointed teeth and notches on the blade, called [[Bitting (key)|bitting]]s, then allow [[Pin tumbler lock|pins]] to move up and down until they are in line with the [[Shear line (locksmithing)|shear line]] of the inner and outer cylinder, allowing the cylinder or [[Cam (mechanism)|cam]] to rotate freely and the lock to open. An additional pin called the master pin is present between the key and driver pins in locks that accept master keys, to allow the plug to rotate at multiple pin elevations.

A [[wafer tumbler lock]] is similar to the pin tumbler lock and works on a similar principle. However, unlike the pin lock (where each pin consists of two or more pieces) each wafer is a single piece. The wafer tumbler lock is often incorrectly referred to as a disc tumbler lock, which uses an entirely different mechanism. The wafer lock is relatively inexpensive to produce and is often used in automobiles and cabinetry.

The [[disc tumbler lock]] or [[Abloy]] lock is composed of slotted rotating detainer discs.

The [[lever tumbler lock]] uses a set of levers to prevent the bolt from moving in the lock. In its simplest form, lifting the tumbler above a certain height will allow the bolt to slide past. Lever locks are commonly [[Mortise lock|recessed]] inside wooden doors or on some older forms of padlocks, including fire brigade padlocks.

A [[magnetic keyed lock]] is a locking mechanism whereby the key utilizes magnets as part of the locking and unlocking mechanism. A magnetic key would use from one to many small magnets oriented so that the North and South poles would equate to a combination to push or pull the lock's internal tumblers thus releasing the lock.

===With electronic keys===
An [[electronic lock]] works by means of an electric current and is usually connected to an [[access control]] system. In addition to the pin and tumbler used in standard locks, electronic locks connect the [[dead bolt|bolt]] or [[cylinder lock|cylinder]] to a motor within the door using a part called an actuator. Types of electronic locks include the following:

A [[keycard lock]] operates with a flat card of similar dimensions as a [[credit card]]. In order to open the door, one needs to successfully match the signature within the ''keycard''.

The lock in a typical [[remote keyless system]] operates with a [[smart key]] radio transmitter. The lock typically accepts a particular valid code only once, and the smart key transmits a different [[rolling code]] every time the button is pressed.
Generally the car door can be opened with either a valid code by radio transmission, or with a (non-electronic) pin tumbler key.
The ignition switch may require a [[transponder car key]] to both open a pin tumbler lock and also transmit a valid code by radio transmission.

A smart lock is an electromechanics lock that gets instructions to lock and unlock the door from an authorized device using a [[Key (cryptography)|cryptographic key]] and wireless protocol. Smart locks have begun to be used more commonly in residential areas, often controlled with [[smartphones]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Ditch the keys: it's time to get a smart lock|url=http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/improvement/security/ditch-the-keys-its-time-to-get-a-smart-lock-16200140|website=Popular Mechanics|access-date=15 June 2016|date=26 November 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216010141/http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/improvement/security/ditch-the-keys-its-time-to-get-a-smart-lock-16200140|archive-date=16 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Kisi And KeyMe, two smart phone apps, might make house keys obsolete|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/26/house-keys-extinct_n_4339682.html|work=[[The Huffington Post]]|date=26 November 2013 |access-date=9 June 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150311201754/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/26/house-keys-extinct_n_4339682.html|archive-date=11 March 2015}}</ref> Smart locks are used in [[coworking]] spaces and offices to enable keyless office entry.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kurutz|first1=Steven|title=Losing The Key|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/12/garden/losing-the-key.html?_r=0|work=The New York Times|date=11 June 2014 |access-date=9 June 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160103232758/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/12/garden/losing-the-key.html?_r=0|archive-date=3 January 2016}}</ref>  In addition, electronic locks cannot be picked with conventional tools.

== Locksmithing ==
{{More citations needed section|date=April 2017}}
[[File:Mendel I 072 v.jpg|thumb|upright|Locksmith, 1451]]
[[Locksmithing]] is a traditional trade, and in most countries requires completion of an [[apprenticeship]]. The level of formal education required varies from country to country, from no qualifications required at all in the UK,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.locksmiths.co.uk/faq/locksmith-qualifications/|title=What qualifications do I need to be a locksmith?|website=Master Locksmiths Association|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-05-23|archive-date=2019-05-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190523171243/https://www.locksmiths.co.uk/faq/locksmith-qualifications/|url-status=live}}</ref> to a simple training certificate awarded by an employer, to a full [[diploma]] from an [[engineering]] [[college]]. Locksmiths may be commercial (working out of a storefront), mobile (working out of a vehicle), institutional, or investigational (forensic locksmiths). They may specialize in one aspect of the skill, such as an automotive lock specialist, a master key system specialist or a safe technician. Many also act as security consultants, but not all security consultants have the skills and knowledge of a locksmith.{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}

Historically, locksmiths constructed or repaired an entire lock, including its constituent parts. The rise of cheap mass production has made this less common; the vast majority of locks are repaired through like-for-like replacements, high-security safes and strongboxes being the most common exception. Many locksmiths also work on any existing door hardware, including door closers, hinges, electric strikes, and frame repairs, or service [[electronic lock]]s by making keys for transponder-equipped vehicles and implementing access control systems.

Although the fitting and replacement of keys remains an important part of locksmithing, modern locksmiths are primarily involved in the installation of high quality lock-sets and the design, implementation, and management of keying and key control systems. Locksmiths are frequently required to determine the level of risk to an individual or institution and then recommend and implement appropriate combinations of equipment and policies to create a "security layer" that exceeds the reasonable gain of an intruder.{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}

===Key duplication===
{{main|Key duplication}}
[[File:Copia llave video.ogv|thumb|Video showing the process of cutting a key]]

Traditional '''key cutting''' is the primary method of key duplication. It is a [[subtractive manufacturing|subtractive process]] named after the metalworking process of [[metalworking#Cutting processes|cutting]], where a flat ''blank'' key is ground down to form the same shape as the ''template'' (original) key. The process roughly follows these stages:
# The original key is fitted into a [[vise]] in a machine, with a blank attached to a parallel vise which is mechanically linked.
# The original key is moved along a guide in a movement which follows the key's shape, while the blank is moved in the same pattern against a cutting wheel by the mechanical linkage between the vices.
# After cutting, the new key is [[burr (metal)|deburred]] by scrubbing it with a metal brush to remove particles of metal which could be dangerously sharp and foul locks.

Modern key cutting replaces the mechanical key following aspect with a process in which the original key is scanned electronically, processed by software, stored, then used to guide a cutting wheel when a key is produced. The capability to store electronic copies of the key's shape allows for key shapes to be stored for key cutting by any party that has access to the key image.

Different key cutting machines are more or less automated, using different milling or grinding equipment, and follow the design of early 20th century key duplicators.

Key duplication is available in many retail [[hardware stores]] and as a service of the specialized locksmith, though the correct key blank may not be available. More recently, online services for duplicating keys have become available.
{{Clear}}

==Keyhole==
{{other uses|Keyhole (disambiguation)}}
[[File:Wardedlock.jpg|thumb|upright|A traditional keyhole for a [[warded lock]]]]
A '''keyhole''' (or '''keyway''') is a hole or aperture (as in a door or lock) for receiving a key.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=keyhole|encyclopedia=Webster's Third New International Dictionary of English Language|editor-last=Gove|editor-first=Philip Babcock|page=1239|publisher=Merriam-Webster Inc|date=1981}}</ref> Lock keyway shapes vary widely with lock manufacturer, and many manufacturers have a number of unique profiles requiring a specifically milled [[key blank]] to engage the lock's [[Pin tumbler lock|tumblers]].

== Symbolism ==

===Heraldry===
{{Commons category|Keys of Saint Peter in heraldry}}
Keys appear in various symbols and coats of arms, the best-known being that of the [[Holy See]]:<ref>{{cite book |last=Fox-Davies |first=Arthur Charles |year=1909 |url=https://archive.org/details/completeguidetoh00foxdrich |title=A Complete Guide to Heraldry |location=New York |publisher=Dodge Publishing  |isbn=0-517-26643-1 |lccn=09023803 |via=Internet Archive|page=291}}</ref> derived from the phrase in [[Matthew 16:19]] which promises [[Saint Peter]], in Roman Catholic tradition the first [[pope]], the [[Keys of Heaven]]. But this is by no means the only case.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="160">
File:Coat of arms Holy See.svg|[[Coat of arms]] of the [[Holy See]]
File:Siuntio.vaakuna.svg|A key pictured in the coat of arms of [[Siuntio]]
</gallery>

===Artwork===
Some works of art associate keys with the Greek goddess of [[witchcraft]], known as [[Hecate]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Oskar Seyffert|title=A Dictionary of Classical Antiquities: Mythology, Religion, Literature and Art|url=https://archive.org/details/b3135841x/page/270/mode/2up?view=theater|publisher=[[William Swan Sonnenschein|Swan Sonnenschein and Co]]|edition=6|date=1901|page=271|access-date=2022-01-01}}</ref>

===Palestinian key===
{{main|Palestinian key}}
[[File:Palestine Nakba Day demo in Berlin.jpg|thumb|Palestinian key at a [[Nakba Day]] demonstration in [[Berlin]]]]
The [[Palestinian key]] is the Palestinian collective symbol of their homes lost in the [[Nakba]], when more than half of the population of [[Mandatory Palestine]] was [[1948 Palestinian expulsion and flight|expelled or fled violence in 1948]] and were subsequently refused the [[Palestinian right to return|right to return]].<ref>{{cite book | last1=Meital | first1=Y. | last2=Rayman | first2=P. | title=Recognition as Key for Reconciliation: Israel, Palestine, and Beyond | publisher=Brill | series=Social, Economic and Political Studies of the Middle East and Asia | year=2017 | isbn=978-90-04-35580-4 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8DE9DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA73 | quote=Michal concedes the fact that Israelis do the same thing to the memory of the Nakba when saying "it was in 1948, enough talking about the past, let's talk about the future." When the Palestinians come with their keys [the Palestinian symbol of their lost homes], she says, "it's the same thing, it's a memory still burning in the hearts of families | access-date=2023-04-06 | archive-date=2023-11-10 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110054841/https://books.google.com/books?id=8DE9DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA73#v=onepage&q&f=false | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Fisk 2018">{{cite web | last=Fisk | first=Robert | title='I spoke to Palestinians who still hold the keys to homes they fled decades ago – many are still determined to return' | website=The Independent | date=2018-06-28 | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/palestine-keys-return-home-israel-palestinians-a8398341.html | quote=Keys must always be the symbol of the Palestinian “Nakba” – the “disaster” – the final, fateful, terrible last turning in the lock of those front doors as 750,000 Arab men, women and children fled or were thrown out of their homes in what was to become the state of Israel in 1947 and 1948. | access-date=2023-04-06 | archive-date=2023-05-01 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501073326/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/palestine-keys-return-home-israel-palestinians-a8398341.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=Feldman>Feldman, llana. 2008. [https://www.academia.edu/3426853/Refusing_invisibility_Documentation_and_memorialization_in_Palestinian_refugee_claims Refusing Invisibility: Documentation and Memorialization in Palestinian Refugee Claims] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411000619/https://www.academia.edu/3426853/Refusing_invisibility_Documentation_and_memorialization_in_Palestinian_refugee_claims |date=2023-04-11 }}, Journal of Refugee Studies 21 (4): 4, page 503: "Anyone familiar with Palestinian visibility practices will certainly be aware of the importance of certain central objects within this field. Many refugees still have the keys to their houses in Palestine. Keeping these keys, and showing them to visitors and researchers, is part of a hope for return and a claim to these properties. Given this widespread practice, these keys, with their distinctive old-fashioned look, have also become symbols of refugee commitment to Palestine. At demonstrations in support of Palestinians one can often find people carrying enlarged replicas of these keys—in the process transforming individual objects into collective symbols."</ref> Since 2016, a Palestinian restaurant in [[Doha]], [[Qatar]], holds the [[Guinness World Record]] for the world's largest key – 2.7 tonnes and 7.8 × 3 meters.<ref name="The Peninsula Newspaper 2016">{{cite web | author=The Peninsula Newspaper | title='Largest Key' dedicated to refugees around the world | website=The Peninsula Qatar | date=2016-05-16 | url=https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/16/05/2016/%E2%80%98Largest-Key%E2%80%99-dedicated-to-refugees-around-the-world | quote=The gigantic key, dedicated to all the refugees around the world, was unveiled in a spectacular show at the Katara Amphitheatre last night featuring Palestinian Arab Idol winner [[Mohammed Assaf]]. “This key symbol for all the refugees in the world. We want to set a Guinness World Record to say that it is the right of these refugees to return back home. Actually this is linked particularly to Palestinian refugees."... Around 4,000 people filled the Katara Amphitheatre to witness the unveiling of the enormous key and enjoy the concert highlighted by the performance of the young Palestinian singer who is the first [[United Nations Relief and Works Agency]] regional youth ambassador for Palestine refugees. | access-date=2023-04-06 | archive-date=2023-05-01 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501073552/https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/16/05/2016/%E2%80%98Largest-Key%E2%80%99-dedicated-to-refugees-around-the-world | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Ard Canaan Restaurant 2016">{{cite web | title=The Largest Key in The World | website=Ard Canaan Restaurant | date=2016-12-08 | url=http://www.ardcanaan.com/en/%D8%B9%D9%86%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A8%D9%89-%D9%8A%D8%AA%D9%85-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%86%D9%81%D8%B3-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%A7-5/ | access-date=2023-04-06 | archive-date=2023-05-01 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501073652/http://www.ardcanaan.com/en/%D8%B9%D9%86%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A8%D9%89-%D9%8A%D8%AA%D9%85-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%86%D9%81%D8%B3-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%A7-5/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Door security]]
* [[Exit control lock]]
* [[Key relevance]]
* [[Physical security]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* Phillips, Bill. (2005). ''The Complete Book of Locks and Locksmithing.'' McGraw-Hill. {{ISBN|0-07-144829-2}}.
* Alth, Max (1972). ''All About Locks and Locksmithing.'' Penguin. {{ISBN|0-8015-0151-2}}
* Robinson, Robert L. (1973). ''Complete Course in Professional Locksmithing'' Nelson-Hall. {{ISBN|0-911012-15-X}}

== External links ==
{{wikibooks}}
{{commons category|Locks (security devices)}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20180815151832/http://wiki.edu-research.info/historical-locks/ Historical locks] by Raine Borg and [[ASSA ABLOY]]
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=fvEDAAAAMBAJ&dq=popular+mechanics+1932+protecting+the+world%27s&pg=PA891 Picking Locks] ''Popular Mechanics''

{{Metalworking navbox/smith}}
{{Locksmithing}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Door furniture]]
[[Category:Locks (security device)| ]]
[[Category:Locksmithing|*]]
[[Category:Physical security]]

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