Crocodile clips are spring-loaded attachments with serrated edges and small teeth. They are typically made from steel or copper and are also known as alligator clips, plier clips, and battery clamps.
Crocodile clips are principally used to create flexible, temporary or experimental electrical connections in industrial settings or laboratories. For example, this could be between two wires or between an electrical lead and the anode or cathode of a device (i.e. the entrance and exit points of an electrical current).
In addition, crocodile clips are also frequently used in education to demonstrate the function of batteries, bulbs or circuitry. Meanwhile, larger crocodile clips are often used in garages and car maintenance, where they are used with battery chargers and jump leads or for welding operations, where they can also usefully absorb excess heat.
Crocodile clips also have some non-electrical functions – for example, attaching identification badges or entry passes to clothing, assembling models before glue or solder is applied, and for holding dentistry bibs in place. They also have a multitude of additional uses, including everything from suspending models to attaching tent ropes.