A loom is a weaving machine used to weave cloth or fabric by interlacing threads or yarns together. It is one of the oldest and most essential tools in textile production, enabling the creation of textiles from threads. The loom operates by holding the warp threads under tension while the weft threads are passed over and under the warp, forming the fabric.

There are different types of looms, including:

• Hand looms: Operated manually, typically used in smaller-scale weaving or traditional methods.
• Power looms: Mechanized looms that use electricity or steam power to automate the weaving process, allowing for faster and larger-scale production.
• Jacquard looms: A type of loom that allows complex patterns or designs to be woven into the fabric by controlling individual threads with punch cards or digital systems.

Looms have played a central role in the history of textile production, transforming the efficiency of fabric manufacturing, and are still used today in both industrial and craft settings.