A button is a small disk or knob that fastens two pieces of fabric. It passes through a buttonhole or loops over a cord. Buttons can be functional, decorative, or both. They come in countless materials: plastic, metal, wood, bone, horn, shell, glass, and fabric. The choice affects the garment's character. A horn button on a blazer signals quality. A cheap plastic button can make an expensive coat look ordinary.

Buttons have a long history. Functional buttons appeared in Europe in the 13th century, attached to clothing with buttonholes. Before that, brooches and pins held garments together. The buttonhole was the key innovation. It allowed clothing to be fastened and unfastened quickly. Buttons became a status symbol in the 18th century, when elaborately decorated examples were worn on court dress.

Today, buttons are mostly practical. Shirt buttons are small and flat. Coat buttons are larger and often have two or four holes. Some buttons have shanks, a small loop underneath that raises them from the fabric. This helps thick fabrics button smoothly. Sewing a button properly takes a few minutes and a bit of thread. A loose button is a small problem that becomes a big one at the wrong moment.

Common types

• Flat two-hole
• Four-hole
• Shank button
• Toggle
• Snap and magnetic closures