A match functions as a tool utilized for initiating a fire.
Typically, matches are crafted from small sticks made of wood or rigid paper. One extremity of the match is covered with a substance that can be ignited through the friction generated by striking the match against a suitable surface. Wooden matches are typically enclosed within matchboxes, while paper matches are partially divided into rows and secured within matchbooks.
The coated end of a match, referred to as the match "head," comprises a small sphere containing active ingredients and a binder, often colored to facilitate inspection.
There exist two primary types of matches: safety matches, which can only be struck against a specially prepared surface, and strike-anywhere matches, which can be ignited on any suitable frictional surface.