Hardware, in general, refers to a device that mechanically joins or affixes two or more objects together. In general, fasteners are used to create non-permanent joints. That is, joints that can be removed or dismantled without damaging the joining components. Nuts are almost always used in conjunction with a mating bolt to fasten multiple parts together. The two partners are kept together by a combination of their threads’ friction, a slight stretching of the bolt, and compression of the parts to be held together.