<Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This article needs additional citations for verification . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . (April 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> <P> Pliers are a hand tool used to hold objects firmly, possibly developed from tongs used to handle hot metal in Bronze Age Europe . They are also useful for bending and compressing a wide range of materials . Generally, pliers consist of a pair of metal first - class levers joined at a fulcrum positioned closer to one end of the levers, creating short jaws on one side of the fulcrum, and longer handles on the other side . This arrangement creates a mechanical advantage, allowing the force of the hand's grip to be amplified and focused on an object with precision . The jaws can also be used to manipulate objects too small or unwieldy to be manipulated with the fingers . </P> <P> Pincers are a similar tool with a different type of head used for cutting and pulling, rather than squeezing . Tools designed for safely handling hot objects are usually called tongs . Special tools for making crimp connections in electrical and electronic applications are often called "crimping pliers"; each type of connection uses its own dedicated tool . </P> <P> There are many kinds of pliers made for various general and specific purposes . </P>

Something that is used specifically as a tool