The steel clip-on nut with tapped hole is U-shaped and has a plain finish. The nut is designed to clip onto panels for quick alignment when inserting machine screws to provide a secure hold. The clip is U-shaped, meaning both legs of the clip are the same length and provide a secure hold on both sides of the panel while screwing down. Also called a tapped-through nut, it has a hole that is tapped, or fully threaded, through to the other end for screws that need to extend beyond the bottom. Steel is often used in applications where strength is the primary consideration.

Nuts are internally threaded fasteners that are used with bolts and threaded rods and studs to connect components. Several different nut styles fit a variety of application and installation requirements. Some styles, such as hex nuts, acorn nuts, flange nuts, and coupling nuts, must be tightened with a tool. Others, such as eye nuts, thumb nuts, and wing nuts, can be tightened by hand. Some nuts have a self-locking mechanism, such as a nylon patch or distorted threads, that makes them suitable for applications with a high amount of vibration.