Locks can help us stay safe like the door locks in our house doors or keep our prized possessions safe like how a safe would. There are many different types of locks but they all mainly fall into seven different categories of locks. They are cam locks, deadbolt locks, keypad locks, knob locks, mortise locks, padlocks, and smart locks.

Cam locks are the locks that are mainly used to secure lockers, cabinets, and other enclosures. They are L-shaped and consist of two parts, the tongue bar, and the cylindrical key nut. Canadian inventor Volker Guelck invented the cam lock in 1985.

Deadbolt locks are mainly used to lock main entrances and are probably the lock on your front door. The deadbolt lock works by having a bolt that must be activated by a key. They cannot be opened by credit cards or knife blades so they are best installed on strong doors that are made from fiberglass, steel, or solid wood. Deadbolt locks were invented in 1912 by former cop Samuel Segal.

Keypad locks are mainly used to access doors, gates, and other secure areas in any type of property. Keypad locks don’t have cylinder mechanisms like other locks so they cannot be picked like other locks. They were invented by Tor Sørnes in 1976. With keypad locks, you can just change the passcode if you forget what it was unlike regular locks where if you lost your key, you would have to re-key or change the lock system.

Knob locks were invented by 16-year-old African-American inventor Osbourn Dorsey in 1848. They are the most common type of door lock. Knob locks shouldn’t be used on external doors because they can be easily broken with basic tools like wrenches and hammers.

Mortise locks need a pocket to be cut into a door or furniture’s edge in order to fit and install a lock. Mortise locks can include either levers or knobs so they can provide more security than cylindrical locks alone. They also have an internal system which kind of makes them more of a lock-set. Linus Yale, Jr. patented the cylindrical mortise lock in 1865 which revolutionized the industry.

Padlocks are portable locks and aren’t permanently stuck to a container or door. They are mainly grouped into two categories, combination, and key. They were invented in 1931 by John I. W. Carlson. Some of the most common places in which padlocks are used are chains, lockers, hasps, and fences.

Smart locks are adaptable electronic door locks that allow for more ways to unlock and lock a door. Although many smart locks come with a keypad or keyhole, the main benefit is that they can be opened with a key hob or phone. Most smart locks are also Bluetooth or Wi-fi enabled which allows them to connect with home automation services. Though one downside to smart locks is that they require power to function and so the battery must be replaced regularly.