A carabiner or karabiner is a specialized type of shackle, a metal loop with a spring-loaded gate used to quickly and reversibly connect components, most notably in safety-critical systems. The word is a shortened form of Karabinerhaken (or also short Karabiner), a German phrase for a "spring hook" used by a carbine rifleman, or carabinier, to attach his carabin to a belt or bandolier.
The process flow for using snap hooks typically involves selecting the appropriate size and type of snap hook for the application; attaching the snap hook to the rope or cable; attaching the other end of the rope or cable to the anchor point or accessory; and using the spring-loaded gate to quickly and easily connect or disconnect the two items.