WHAT IS A LATCH? SIMPLY EXPLAINED IN THE MULTIPICK LOCK GLOSSARY

WHAT IS A LATCH?

The latch is the movable, usually bevelled metal component of a lock that engages with the strike plate in the door frame when the door is pulled shut. It is located at the edge of the door, where the door meets the frame. If you close a door slowly, you can see how the latch is briefly pushed back when it touches the strike plate and then springs forward again. This engagement keeps the door closed. In short: The latch keeps a door closed without locking it. This is the most important difference between the latch and the deadbolt. The deadbolt only becomes active when you turn the key or, in some locks, when an automatic locking mechanism is triggered. The latch, by contrast, operates whenever the door is simply pulled shut.

WHAT EXACTLY DOES THE LATCH DO?

The latch performs a simple but very important task: it keeps the door in the frame. When you pull a door shut, the following happens: The bevelled side of the latch meets the strike plate. The sloping surface briefly pushes the latch into the lock case. As soon as the door is fully closed, the latch springs back out and engages with the opening in the strike plate. This keeps the door closed. However, the door is not actually locked. It has merely fallen shut. This distinction is important. Under certain conditions, a door that has only fallen shut can be opened differently from a locked door. For locksmiths, fire brigades, property managers and security technicians, this distinction is not a minor detail but part of everyday work. A door held closed only by the latch is in a different state from a door where the deadbolt has also been extended.

LATCH OR DEADBOLT, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

These terms are often confused in everyday language. That is understandable, because both components are located inside the lock and both somehow keep the door closed. Even so, the latch and the deadbolt are two completely different components. The latch keeps the door closed as soon as it falls shut.
The deadbolt locks the door only when it is locked with a key. The latch is therefore responsible for the normal closing of the door. The deadbolt provides the actual security. A simple example: You pull your front door shut behind you without turning the key. In this case, the door is usually held closed only by the latch. If you then turn the key, the deadbolt extends. The door is now locked.

HOW CAN YOU IDENTIFY THE LATCH?

The latch can usually be identified by its bevelled shape. It is located on the lock side of the door and points towards the door frame. It is clearly visible when the door is open. 

Typical features include:
• It is spring-loaded.
• It can be pushed in. 
• It springs back out. 
• It is bevelled on one side. 
• It engages with the strike plate when the door closes. 

The bevel is important because it allows the door to fall shut without operating the handle. Without this sloping surface, the latch would have to be actively retracted every time the door was closed. That would be about as convenient as a car where you had to get out before every bend and turn the wheels by hand.

WHY IS THE LATCH BEVELLED?

The bevelled shape is the key to the entire function. When the door is closed, the bevelled side of the latch slides along the strike plate. This automatically pushes the latch back. As soon as it reaches the corresponding opening in the strike plate, the spring pushes the latch back out. This allows the door to simply fall shut. This small bevel therefore determines whether a door can be closed conveniently. You do not notice it as long as everything works. You only become aware of it when the latch jams, becomes dirty or no longer aligns correctly with the strike plate.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE DOOR HANDLE IS PRESSED?

When you press the door handle down, the latch is mechanically retracted. This releases it from the strike plate and allows the door to be opened. On many interior doors, this can be seen immediately. Press the handle, the latch retracts and the door opens. The situation may be slightly different with front doors or entrance doors. These often have a fixed knob on the outside. From the outside, the latch cannot simply be retracted using a handle. This is exactly why you can lock yourself out even though the door has not been locked with a key. The door has only fallen shut, but there is no direct way to operate the latch from the outside. This is one of the most common situations encountered by locksmiths.

WHAT TYPES OF LATCH ARE THERE?

There are several different types commonly encountered in everyday use. 

The standard latch

This is the classic latch found in many mortice locks. It keeps the door closed and is retracted using the door handle. 

The key-operated latch

On front doors or apartment doors with a fixed knob on the outside, the latch can often be retracted using the key. This function is known as the key-operated latch function. When the key is turned in a particular direction, it does not move the deadbolt but retracts the latch instead. 

The roller latch

Instead of a bevelled latch, this version uses a small roller. It is often used on certain front doors, swing doors or doors with special closing requirements. This allows the door to close more smoothly. 

Latch adjustment

On some locks or strike plates, the position can be adjusted so that the door closes correctly. This is particularly important when doors move, warp or no longer sit precisely within the frame.

WHAT DOES THE LATCH HAVE TO DO WITH SECURITY?

The latch is primarily a component for convenience and keeping the door closed. It ensures that the door remains shut. For actual security, however, the deadbolt is the decisive component. A door that has only fallen shut is therefore not as secure as a door that has been locked with a key. This is particularly important for front doors and apartment doors: anyone who wants to secure the door properly should lock it. Only then does the deadbolt extend and provide the actual locking function.

WHY DOES A LATCH SOMETIMES JAM?

A latch can jam or fail to engage properly for various reasons.
Common causes include:
 • The door has warped.
 • The strike plate is no longer correctly aligned.
 • The latch is dirty.
 • The spring inside the lock is weak or defective.
 • Paint, dirt or old lubricant is restricting movement.
 • The door seal is applying too much pressure.
 • The lock is worn. 

This often becomes noticeable when the door only closes with pressure, the handle becomes harder to operate or the latch no longer springs back properly. It is worth taking a closer look. Sometimes a minor adjustment to the strike plate is sufficient. Sometimes the lock is worn. And sometimes the door itself is the problem.

WHAT SHOULD YOU NOT DO?

If a latch is jammed, you should not use force. Avoid aggressive levering, poking around with unsuitable objects or soaking the mechanism in oil on the assumption that more is always better. Too much lubricant or the wrong type of lubricant can attract dirt and make the problem worse over time. Sharp tools can also damage the latch, lock or strike plate. 

It is better to check the following first:
 • Does the latch enter the strike plate cleanly?
 • Can it be pushed in easily?
 • Does it spring back fully?
 • Is the door rubbing against the frame?
 • Is the strike plate positioned too high, too low or too far inward?
 • Has the door possibly warped? 

For front doors, multipoint locking systems or security-relevant doors, a qualified specialist should inspect the problem if there is any doubt.

WHAT ROLE DOES THE LATCH PLAY IN DOOR OPENING?

For professional users, the latch is an important part of assessing the situation. A door that has merely fallen shut is technically very different from a locked door. The following always applies: opening techniques belong exclusively in qualified hands and may only be used on property you own, or on third-party property with explicit authorisation. This clear distinction is important to Multipick. Technology is fascinating, but it requires responsibility. For locksmiths, public authorities, fire brigades and security professionals, understanding the latch is nevertheless fundamental. Anyone who knows which component is currently keeping the door closed can assess the situation more accurately and make a better-informed decision about the appropriate professional approach.

GLOSSARY

Latch

Movable component inside the lock that engages when the door closes and keeps the door shut.
Deadbolt

Component that extends from the lock when the door is locked and secures the door.
Strike plate

Metal component in the door frame into which the latch and deadbolt engage.
Key-operated latch function

Function that allows the latch to be retracted using the key.
Door that has fallen shut

A door that is closed but has not been locked. It is usually held closed only by the latch.