A jumper is a tiny metal connector used to open or close parts of an electrical circuit as an alternative to a DIP switch. It has multiple connecting points to regulate circuits on a board and is insulated to prevent shorts. Jumpers act like on/off switches by being removed or added to enable options, and connecting pins to activate settings. They offer a one-time configuration that is less vulnerable than firmware to corruption or power failure, and are usually fast and easy to set up without access to the circuit board. Jumpers are used to configure computer peripherals like motherboards and components.