Technology
How does a zipper work?
A zipper works by using a slider to lock together two rows of interlocking teeth. As you pull the slider up, its Y-shaped channel forces the teeth to mesh tightly together; pulling it down wedges them apart again.
See it in motion.
Watch a 2-minute animated lesson that shows exactly how a zipper works.
Step by step
- 1Two rows of teeth sit on either side of the opening.
- 2A slider with a Y-shaped internal channel guides them.
- 3Pulling up forces each pair of teeth to hook together.
- 4Pulling down wedges the teeth back apart.
- 5Each tooth has a hook and hollow that lock with its neighbors.
Frequently asked questions
- How does a zipper stay closed?
- Each tooth has a hook that fits into the hollow of the tooth opposite, and the meshed rows hold firmly until the slider separates them.
- Why do zippers get stuck?
- Fabric caught in the slider, bent teeth, or misalignment stops the slider from meshing the teeth smoothly.
- Who invented the zipper?
- Its modern form was developed by Gideon Sundback in the early 1910s, refining earlier hook-and-eye designs.