Ask Difference

Strap vs. String — What's the Difference?

By Urooj Arif & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 9, 2024
A strap is a flat, typically sturdy band used to fasten or secure items, while a string is a thin, flexible cord often used for tying or hanging objects.
Strap vs. String — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Strap and String

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Key Differences

A strap is generally broader and made of durable materials like leather, fabric, or nylon. It's designed for securing, fastening, or carrying items, often found in belts, bags, or watches. A string, on the other hand, is a slender cord made of twisted fibers like cotton, nylon, or hemp. It’s used for lighter tasks like tying, stitching, or creating musical instruments.
Straps are often adjustable and reinforced with buckles, snaps, or hooks, providing strong support for carrying or securing heavy loads. Strings lack the structural reinforcement and are more commonly tied into knots for light bundling or as decorative elements.
Straps tend to be associated with utility and functionality due to their ability to withstand tension. Strings are valued for their flexibility and versatility, being useful in crafts, fishing, or as threads for sewing.
Straps frequently come in standardized widths and lengths depending on their application. Strings can vary greatly in thickness and length, from fine threads used in sewing to thicker cords used for fishing or sports.
In musical instruments, straps help hold or support the instrument, like a guitar strap. Strings, conversely, are integral to the instrument itself, as in violins or guitars, where they produce sound through vibration.
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Comparison Chart

Width

Wider, flat band
Narrow, thin cord

Material

Leather, fabric, nylon
Cotton, nylon, hemp

Purpose

Securing, fastening, carrying
Tying, bundling, threading

Strength

High tension capability
Low tension capability

Adjustability

Often adjustable via buckles/hooks
Tied into knots or loops

Compare with Definitions

Strap

A flat band used to secure or carry items.
The backpack's shoulder straps made it easy to carry.

String

A thin, flexible cord used for tying or binding.
He tied the parcel with a length of string.

Strap

A supportive band to hold objects in place.
The watch strap fit snugly around his wrist.

String

A set of threads twisted together to form a rope-like material.
The fisherman repaired the fishing net using strong nylon string.

Strap

A broad piece of leather used for securing.
The carpenter wore a tool belt with adjustable leather straps.

String

A series of connected things or events.
The detective uncovered a string of related crimes.

Strap

An adjustable band to fit a specific size.
She adjusted the sandal straps to fit her feet.

String

A slender cord used in musical instruments to produce sound.
The violinist replaced a broken string before the performance.

Strap

A fastening element with a clasp or buckle.
The safety helmet has a chin strap to keep it secure.

String

A sequence of characters in computing or coding.
The programmer wrote a function to manipulate text strings.

Strap

A strap, sometimes also called strop, is an elongated flap or ribbon, usually of leather or other flexible materials. Thin straps are used as part of clothing or baggage, or bedding such as a sleeping bag.

String

Material made of drawn-out, twisted fiber, used for fastening, tying, or lacing.

Strap

A long narrow strip of pliant material such as leather.

String

A strand or cord of such material.

Strap

Such a strip equipped with a buckle or similar fastener for binding or securing objects.

String

A cord stretched on an instrument and struck, plucked, or bowed to produce tones.

Strap

A thin flat metal or plastic band used for fastening or clamping objects together or into position.

String

Strings The section of a band or orchestra composed of stringed instruments, especially violins, violas, cellos, and double basses.

Strap

A narrow band formed into a loop for grasping with the hand.

String

Strings Stringed instruments or their players considered as a group.

Strap

A razor strop.

String

Something resembling a string or appearing as a long, thin line
Limp strings of hair.

Strap

A strip of leather used in flogging.

String

A plant fiber.

Strap

To fasten or secure with a strap.

String

(Physics) One of the extremely minute objects that form the basis of string theory.

Strap

To beat with a strap.

String

A set of objects threaded together or attached on a string
A string of beads.

Strap

To sharpen (a razor, for example).

String

A number of objects arranged in a line
A string of islands.

Strap

A long, narrow, pliable strip of leather, cloth, or the like.

String

(Computers) A set of consecutive characters.

Strap

A strap worn on the shoulder.

String

A series of similar or related acts, events, or items
A string of victories.

Strap

A strip of thick leather used in flogging.

String

A set of animals, especially racehorses, belonging to a single owner; a stable.

Strap

Something made of such a strip, or of a part of one, or a combination of two or more for a particular use.

String

A scattered group of businesses under a single ownership or management
A string of boutiques.

Strap

A piece of leather, or strip of wood covered with a suitable material, used to hone the sharpened edge of a razor; a strop.

String

A group of players ranked according to ability within a team
He made the second string.

Strap

A narrow strip of anything, as of iron or brass.

String

A complete game consisting of ten frames in bowling.

Strap

A band, plate, or loop of metal for clasping and holding timbers or parts of a machine.

String

A stringboard.

Strap

(nautical) A piece of rope or metal passing around a block and used for fastening it to anything.

String

A stringcourse.

Strap

(botany) The flat part of the corolla in ligulate florets, as those of the white circle in the daisy.

String

(Games) The balk line in billiards.

Strap

(botany) The leaf, exclusive of its sheath, in some grasses.

String

(Informal) A limiting or hidden condition. Often used in the plural
A gift with no strings attached.

Strap

(slang) A gun, normally a personal firearm such as a pistol or machine pistol.

String

To fit or furnish with strings or a string
String a guitar.
String a tennis racket.

Strap

Credit offered to a customer, especially for alcoholic drink.

String

To stretch out or extend
String a wire across a room.

Strap

(journalism) strapline

String

To thread on a string
String popcorn.

Strap

A championship belt, or by extension, the title.

String

To arrange in a line or series
Strung the words into a sentence.

Strap

(finance) An investment strategy involving simultaneous trade with one put and two call options on the same security at the same strike price, similar to but more bullish than a straddle.

String

To fasten, tie, or hang with a string or strings
String a hammock between trees.

Strap

(transitive) To beat or chastise with a strap; to whip, to lash.

String

To strip (vegetables) of fibers.

Strap

(transitive) To fasten or bind with a strap.

String

To extend or progress in a string, line, or succession
"We followed the others stringing through the narrow paved paths" (Susan Richards Shreve).

Strap

(transitive) To sharpen by rubbing on a strap; to strop.
To strap a razor

String

(countable) A long, thin and flexible structure made from threads twisted together.

Strap

A long, narrow, pliable strip of leather, cloth, or the like; specifically, a strip of thick leather used in flogging.
A lively cobbler that . . . had scarce passed a day without giving her [his wife] the discipline of the strap.

String

(uncountable) Such a structure considered as a substance.

Strap

Something made of such a strip, or of a part of one, or a combination of two or more for a particular use; as, a boot strap, shawl strap, stirrup strap.

String

(countable) A thread

Strap

A piece of leather, or strip of wood covered with a suitable material, for sharpening a razor; a strop.

String

(countable) Any similar long, thin and flexible object.

Strap

A narrow strip of anything, as of iron or brass.

String

(musical instrument) A segment of wire (typically made of plastic or metal) or other material used as vibrating element on a musical instrument.
A violinstring
A bowstring

Strap

A band, plate, or loop of metal for clasping and holding timbers or parts of a machine.

String

(sports) A length of nylon or other material on the head of a racquet.

Strap

The flat part of the corolla in ligulate florets, as those of the white circle in the daisy.

String

A thread or cord on which a number of objects or parts are strung or arranged in close and orderly succession; hence, a line or series of things arranged on a thread, or as if so arranged.
A string of shells or beads
A string of sausages

Strap

A piece of rope or metal passing around a block and used for fastening it to anything.

String

(countable) A cohesive substance taking the form of a string.
The string of spittle dangling from his chin was most unattractive

Strap

A shoulder strap. See under Shoulder.

String

(countable) A series of items or events.
A string of successes

Strap

To beat or chastise with a strap.

String

(countable) The members of a sports team or squad regarded as most likely to achieve success. (Perhaps metaphorical as the "strings" that hold the squad together.) Often first string, second string etc.

Strap

To fasten or bind with a strap.

String

(countable) In various games and competitions, a certain number of turns at play, of rounds, etc.

Strap

To sharpen by rubbing on a strap, or strop; as, to strap a razor.

String

(collective) A drove of horses, or a group of racehorses kept by one owner or at one stable.

Strap

An elongated leather strip (or or strip of similar material) for binding things together or holding something in position

String

An ordered sequence of text characters stored consecutively in memory and capable of being processed as a single entity.

Strap

Hanger consisting of a loop of leather suspended from the ceiling of a bus or train; passengers hold onto it

String

A stringed instrument.

Strap

A band that goes over the shoulder and supports a garment or bag

String

The stringed instruments as a section of an orchestra, especially those played by a bow, or the persons playing those instruments.

Strap

Whip consisting of a strip of leather used in flogging

String

The conditions and limitations in a contract collectively.
No strings attached

Strap

Tie with a strap

String

The main object of study in string theory, a branch of theoretical physics.

Strap

Beat severely with a whip or rod;
The teacher often flogged the students
The children were severely trounced

String

(slang) Cannabis or marijuana.

Strap

Sharpen with a strap;
Strap a razor

String

(billiards) Part of the game of billiards, where the order of the play is determined by testing who can get a ball closest to the bottom rail by shooting it onto the end rail.

Strap

Secure (a sprained joint) with a strap

String

The buttons strung on a wire by which the score is kept.

String

The points made in a game of billiards.

String

The line from behind and over which the cue ball must be played after being out of play, as by being pocketed or knocked off the table; also called the string line.

String

A strip, as of leather, by which the covers of a book are held together.

String

(archaic) A fibre, as of a plant; a little fibrous root.

String

(archaic) A nerve or tendon of an animal body.

String

(shipbuilding) An inside range of ceiling planks, corresponding to the sheer strake on the outside and bolted to it.

String

(botany) The tough fibrous substance that unites the valves of the pericarp of leguminous plants.
The strings of beans

String

(mining) A small, filamentous ramification of a metallic vein.

String

(architecture) A stringcourse.

String

A hoax; a fake story.

String

Synonym of stable

String

(oil drilling) A column of drill pipe that transmits drilling fluid (via the mud pumps) and torque (via the kelly drive or top drive) to the drill bit.

String

(transitive) To put (items) on a string.
You can string these beads on to this cord to make a colorful necklace.

String

(transitive) To put strings on (something).
It is difficult to string a tennis racket properly.

String

(intransitive) To form into a string or strings, as a substance which is stretched, or people who are moving along, etc.

String

To drive the ball against the end of the table and back, in order to determine which player is to open the game.

String

(birdwatching) To deliberately state that a certain bird is present when it is not; to knowingly mislead other birders about the occurrence of a bird, especially a rarity; to misidentify a common bird as a rare species.

String

A small cord, a line, a twine, or a slender strip of leather, or other substance, used for binding together, fastening, or tying things; a cord, larger than a thread and smaller than a rope; as, a shoe string; a bonnet string; a silken string.
Round Ormond's knee thou tiest the mystic string.

String

A thread or cord on which a number of objects or parts are strung or arranged in close and orderly succession; hence, a line or series of things arranged on a thread, or as if so arranged; a succession; a concatenation; a chain; as, a string of shells or beads; a string of dried apples; a string of houses; a string of arguments.

String

A strip, as of leather, by which the covers of a book are held together.

String

The cord of a musical instrument, as of a piano, harp, or violin; specifically (pl.), the stringed instruments of an orchestra, in distinction from the wind instruments; as, the strings took up the theme.
Me softer airs befit, and softer stringsOf lute, or viol still.

String

The line or cord of a bow.
He twangs the grieving string.

String

A fiber, as of a plant; a little, fibrous root.
Duckweed putteth forth a little string into the water, from the bottom.

String

A nerve or tendon of an animal body.
The string of his tongue was loosed.

String

An inside range of ceiling planks, corresponding to the sheer strake on the outside and bolted to it.

String

The tough fibrous substance that unites the valves of the pericap of leguminous plants, and which is readily pulled off; as, the strings of beans.

String

A small, filamentous ramification of a metallic vein.

String

Same as Stringcourse.

String

The points made in a game.

String

In various indoor games, a score or tally, sometimes, as in American billiard games, marked by buttons threaded on a string or wire.

String

The line from behind and over which the cue ball must be played after being out of play as by being pocketed or knocked off the table; - called also string line.

String

A hoax; a trumped-up or "fake" story.

String

A sequence of similar objects or events sufficiently close in time or space to be perceived as a group; a string of accidents; a string of restaurants on a highway.

String

A one-dimensional string-like mathematical object used as a means of representing the properties of fundamental particles in string theory, one theory of particle physics; such hypothetical objects are one-dimensional and very small (10-33 cm) but exist in more than four spatial dimensions, and have various modes of vibration. Considering particles as strings avoids some of the problems of treating particles as points, and allows a unified treatment of gravity along with the other three forces (electromagnetism, the weak force, and the strong force) in a manner consistent with quantum mechanics. See also string theory.

String

To furnish with strings; as, to string a violin.
Has not wise nature strung the legs and feetWith firmest nerves, designed to walk the street?

String

To put in tune the strings of, as a stringed instrument, in order to play upon it.
For here the Muse so oft her harp has strung,That not a mountain rears its head unsung.

String

To put on a string; to file; as, to string beads.

String

To make tense; to strengthen.
Toil strung the nerves, and purified the blood.

String

To hoax; josh; jolly; often used with along; as, we strung him along all day until he realized we were kidding.

String

To form into a string or strings, as a substance which is stretched, or people who are moving along, etc.

String

A lightweight cord

String

Stringed instruments that are played with a bow;
The strings played superlatively well

String

A tightly stretched cord of wire or gut, which makes sound when plucked, struck, or bowed

String

A sequentially ordered set of things or events or ideas in which each successive member is related to the preceding;
A string of islands
Train of mourners
A train of thought

String

A linear sequence of symbols (characters or words or phrases)

String

A tie consisting of a cord that goes through a seam around an opening;
He pulled the drawstring and closed the bag

String

A collection of objects threaded on a single strand

String

A necklace made by a stringing objects together;
A string of beads
A strand of pearls

String

Thread on or as if on a string;
String pearls on a string
The child drew glass beads on a string
Thread dried cranberries

String

Add as if on a string;
String these ideas together
String up these songs and you'll have a musical

String

Move or come along

String

Stretch out or arrange like a string

String

String together; tie or fasten with a string;
String the package

String

Remove the stringy parts of;
String beans

String

Provide with strings;
String my guitar

Common Curiosities

Do straps have standard sizes?

Straps are often produced in standardized sizes based on their specific use, like belts or watchbands.

Can strings be used for musical purposes?

Yes, strings are essential components of many musical instruments, creating sound through vibration.

Are straps always adjustable?

No, not all straps are adjustable, but many include buckles or hooks for adjustment.

Are all strings made of natural fibers?

No, strings can be made of synthetic materials like nylon or polyester.

Are straps used in clothing?

Yes, straps are commonly used in clothing items like bras, swimsuits, and overalls for support or design.

What materials are typically used for straps?

Straps can be made from leather, fabric, nylon, or plastic for various purposes.

Can strings be decorative?

Yes, strings are often used decoratively in arts and crafts.

Do straps require additional fastening mechanisms?

Yes, many straps rely on buckles, hooks, or snaps for secure fastening.

Are strings only used for tying things?

No, strings are also used for crafts, fishing, sewing, and computing as text data structures.

Can strings be braided or twisted?

Yes, strings are often twisted or braided for additional strength and durability.

Can strings carry heavy loads?

Strings are typically not strong enough to bear heavy loads and are better suited for lighter tasks.

Do straps provide better support than strings?

Yes, straps are designed to provide strong support and tension, unlike strings.

Are straps durable?

Straps are usually designed to withstand heavy use and are reinforced for durability.

Are there different types of strings for musical instruments?

Yes, musical instrument strings vary in thickness and material depending on the instrument's requirements.

Do straps serve a specific function in sports equipment?

Yes, straps are used to secure and carry sports gear, like ski boots or helmets.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Urooj Arif
Urooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat

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