Protection is any measure taken to guard a thing against
damage caused by outside forces. Protection can be provided to physical objects, including
organisms, to systems, and to intangible things like
civil and political rights. Although the mechanisms for providing protection vary widely, the basic meaning of the term remains the same. This is illustrated by an explanation found in a manual on electrical wiring:
The meaning of the word protection, as used in the electrical industry, is no different to that in everyday use. People protect themselves against personal or financial loss by means of insurance and from injury or discomfort by the use of protective clothing. They further protect their property by the installation of security measures such as locks and/or alarm systems.[1]
Some kind of protection is a characteristic of all life, as living things have evolved at least some protective mechanisms to counter damaging environmental phenomena, such as
ultraviolet light.[2] Biological membranes such as
bark on trees and
skin on animals offer protection from various threats, with skin playing a key role in protecting organisms against
pathogens[3] and excessive water loss.[4] Additional structures like
scales and
hair offer further protection from the elements and from
predators, with some animals having features such as spines or
camouflage serving exclusively as
anti-predator adaptations. Many animals supplement the protection afforded by their physiology by
burrowing or otherwise adopting habitats or behaviors that insulate them from potential sources of harm. Humans originally began wearing clothing and building shelters in prehistoric times for protection from the elements.[5] Both humans and animals are also often concerned with the protection of others, with adult animals being particularly inclined to seek to protect their young from elements of nature and from predators.
In the human sphere of activity, the concept of protection has been extended to nonliving objects, including technological systems such as computers, and to intangible things such as
intellectual property, beliefs, and economic systems. Humans seek to protect locations of historical and cultural significance through historic preservation efforts, and are also concerned with protecting the environment from damage caused by human activity, and with protecting the Earth as a whole from potentially harmful objects from space.
Safe sex practices to afford sexual protection against pregnancy and disease, particularly the use of
condoms
Executive protection, security measures taken to ensure the safety of important persons
Protection racket, a criminal scheme involving exchanging money from "protection" against violence
Right of asylum, protection for those seeking asylum from persecution by political groups and to ensure safe passage
Workplace or employment retaliation, protecting individuals in the workplace such as from being fired for opposing, aiding and complaining about workplace practices
Protection of systems
Protection of technological systems
Protection of technological systems is often symbolized by the use of a
padlockicon, such as "🔒", or a padlock image.