Chain Link Fence Parts Glossary (A–Z)
A
Accessory fitting — Any added hardware component used to connect, secure, or finish fence parts.
Adjusting nut (truss system) — Nut used to tighten or loosen a truss rod brace assembly.
Aluminized fabric — Steel chain link fabric coated with aluminum for corrosion resistance.
B
Barbed tape (razor tape) — Sharp-edged metal tape used for high-security topping.
Barbed wire — Twisted line wires with barbs spaced at intervals.
Barbed wire arm — Post extension that supports strands of barbed wire (straight, angled, or V-arm).
Barb — A sharp wire point wrapped around the barbed wire line wires.
Bottom rail — Horizontal rail along the bottom edge (used in some builds instead of bottom tension wire).
Brace band (rail end band) — Band that wraps a terminal post to hold a rail end or brace rail end.
Brace rail — Horizontal/diagonal member that braces terminal assemblies.
C
Cantilever gate — Slide gate supported by roller assemblies outside the opening (no ground track in the opening).
Carriage bolt — Rounded-head bolt commonly used with bands and clamps.
Chain link fabric (mesh) — Woven wire diamonds that form the fence surface.
Clamps — Hardware used to connect rails or panels to posts (line, end, corner, or panel clamps).
Corner post — Terminal post placed at a change of direction.
Coupler / rail sleeve — Connector used to join two pieces of top rail when not swedged.
Crimped (pressed) spear top — A formed top detail sometimes used on gates or decorative add-ons (less common in chain link).
D
Diamond — The opening shape formed by woven chain link wire.
Diamond count — Number of diamonds across the fabric height or width (used to identify fabric).
Drop rod (drop bar / cane bolt) — Vertical rod that drops into a stop/sleeve to secure one leaf of a double gate.
Drive gate — Vehicular gate; commonly a double swing or slide gate.
E
End post — Terminal post at the end of a fence run.
Eye top (loop cap) — Line post cap with a loop that supports the top rail.
F
Fabric ties (tie wires) — Wire ties used to attach fabric to rails and line posts.
Fence band — General term for post bands (tension bands, brace bands, gate bands).
Fence frame / framework — Posts, rails, braces, and support wires that hold the fabric.
Flange (base plate) — Plate used to bolt posts to concrete or mount rails to walls/structures.
Fork latch — Common gate latch style that can accept a padlock.
G
Galvanized — Zinc-coated steel finish for corrosion resistance.
Gate frame — Tubular structure of the gate leaf.
Gate leaf — One gate panel (double gates have two leaves).
Gate post — Terminal post supporting hinges and latch for a gate.
Gate stop / center stop — Receiver device that holds a double gate closed and accepts the drop rod.
Guide roller — Roller that keeps a slide gate aligned (cantilever and rolling gates).
H
Hinge (gate hinge) — Hardware that allows a swing gate to pivot (post hinge + frame hinge + hinge pin).
Hinge pin (pintle) — Vertical pin that creates the pivot point for a swing gate.
Hog ring — Metal ring used to attach fabric to tension wire or to secure accessories.
I
Intermediate rail (mid rail) — Additional horizontal rail used for taller fences or extra strength.
K
Knuckled selvage (KK) — Fabric edge finish where wire ends are bent into loops for safety.
L
Latch — Hardware that holds a gate closed (fork latch, gravity latch, lockable latch).
Line post — Intermediate post between terminal posts.
Line post cap (loop cap) — Cap used on line posts to carry the top rail.
M
Marcelled tension wire — Wavy tension wire that helps maintain consistent tension and reduces sag.
Mesh size — The size of the diamond opening (commonly 2-inch for standard chain link).
Mischmetal zinc-aluminum coating — A zinc-aluminum alloy coating used on some chain link wire products.
O
Offset hinge — Hinge designed to allow wider gate swing (often up to 180 degrees).
Overhead slide gate — Slide gate supported from above (track/hardware overhead).
P
Panel clamp (kennel clamp / saddle clamp) — Clamp used to connect fence panels together (often for kennels or temporary panels).
Picket (spiral wire) — Helical wire used in manufacturing and for field splicing fabric sections.
Post cap (dome cap) — Cap that covers the top of terminal posts to reduce water intrusion.
Post sleeve — Tube set in concrete to receive a removable post.
Privacy slats — Inserts woven into fabric to add privacy and reduce visibility.
R
Rail — Horizontal pipe supporting the fence (top rail is the most common).
Rail end (rail end cup) — Cup fitting used with a brace band to connect rail to a terminal post.
Rail clamp — Clamp used to attach rail to a post (line, corner, end styles).
Razor wire / concertina — High-security topping wire with sharp blades (often mounted on arms).
S
Salvage / selvage — Finished edges of chain link fabric (knuckled or twisted).
Slide gate — Gate that opens sideways along the fence line.
Stretch bar (tension bar) — Flat vertical bar woven into fabric edge; attaches to tension bands on terminal posts.
Swedged rail — Rail with one tapered end that fits into the next rail section (reduces need for sleeves).
Swing gate — Hinged gate that swings open and closed.
T
Terminal post — Post where fabric ends and is tensioned (end, corner, gate, or pull post).
Tension band — Band used on terminal posts to bolt and hold the tension bar.
Tension wire — Wire installed along bottom (and sometimes top) to reduce push-out and sag.
Tie wire — Wire used to tie fabric to rails/posts.
Top rail — Horizontal rail along the top of the fence line.
Truss rod — Rod used to brace terminal assemblies and gates; keeps the structure rigid.
Turnbuckle — Tightening device used to adjust brace/truss rod tension.
Twisted selvage (KT) — Fabric edge finish where wire ends are twisted into points (more deterrent).
V
Vinyl-coated (PVC-coated) — Polymer-coated fabric/framework for color and added corrosion protection.
W
Windscreen — Fabric screen attached to chain link for privacy, wind reduction, and sports fields.
Wire gauge — Thickness rating of wire (often referenced as gauge or wire diameter).