Pliers are a type of hand tool used to hold objects firmly, or for cutting and bending tough materials such as wire. Generally, pliers consist of a pair of metal levers joined at a pivot positioned closer to one end of the levers, creating short jaws on one side of the pivot, and longer handles on the other side. This arrangement allows the power of the hand's grip to be amplified and focused on the object with precision. The jaws can also be used to manipulate objects too small or unwieldy to be manipulated with the fingers.

There are many kinds of pliers; some are designed for general purpose gripping, and others are designed for a specific purpose.