A wristband is a band worn around the wrist, typically made of fabric, plastic, rubber, or paper. You've probably worn one at a concert, amusement park, or summer camp: it's that strip that proves you paid to get in or that you belong to a certain group.

Hospitals use wristbands to identify patients and track important medical information. Event organizers use different colored wristbands to show who has access to different areas, maybe orange for general admission and purple for VIP. At water parks, wristbands show you paid for the day and can ride the slides. Security guards check wristbands to make sure people are where they're supposed to be.

Some wristbands serve other purposes entirely. Athletes wear sweatbands on their wrists to wipe away perspiration during games. Fitness trackers and smartwatches attach to your wrist with wristbands. Friendship bracelets, though more decorative, are also a type of wristband.

The paper or plastic wristbands used at events are designed to be hard to remove without tearing, which keeps people from sharing them or sneaking into places they haven't paid to enter.