An aglet is the small plastic or metal tip at the end of a shoelace. Without aglets, the fabric of your shoelaces would fray and unravel, making it nearly impossible to thread them through the tiny holes in your shoes.

Aglets might seem insignificant, but they solve a real problem. Try threading a shoelace without its aglet sometime: the frayed end just won't cooperate. The aglet keeps everything tight and smooth, turning a floppy piece of string into a tool that actually works.

Most people never think about aglets until one breaks off, and suddenly that shoelace becomes frustratingly difficult to use. It's one of those humble inventions that quietly makes everyday life easier.