A hasp and staple is a piece of hardware used to secure outdoor buildings, gates, and other structures with a padlock. It consists of a hinged plate, called a hasp, that fits over a staple, which is a loop on a plate. The hasp is attached to the door or gate, and the padlock secures the hasp to the staple through a hole in the staple. Hasps and staples come in a variety of materials, finishes, and sizes, and can be designed for different levels of security and use: