Nuts are threaded fasteners that are used with bolts to fasten multiple parts together. Nuts and bolts work together, with their threaded friction and the stretch and compression of parts, to securely hold items in place. Washers are thin, disk-shaped plates that are often used with nuts and bolts to more widely distribute the load. Common materials used for nuts, bolts, and washers include carbon steel, alloy steel, stainless steel, and nickel alloys.