This glossary provides definitions for terms that you may have seen in our Knowledge Base or on our website:

Backset: The backset is the distance from the edge of the door to the center of the 2-1/8" bore hole. In the U.S. there are two common backsets for residential locks, 2-3/8" and 2-3/4". Most Yale locks come with an adjustable deadbolt/latch that can be set at either of these two backsets.

Bore: A round hole made using a drill, commonly used in reference to tubular door lock preparations.

Deadbolt Latch: A non-spring loaded locking mechanism that can only be disengaged by rotating the lock cylinder via key or thumb turn.

Door Prep: The dimensions that a door must be bored or mortised in order for a handle set to be installed.

Dummy Function: Dummy sets have no latch and are surface mounted so you can install a dummy set wherever you choose on the door, but they are usually located to match the appearance of nearby operating locks.

Drive In Latch: A drive-in latch fits into a 1” round hole on the edge of the door and contains no face plate. It does not require any special preparation or mortising.

Handing: Levers and some handle grips are either Right handed or Left handed depending on the orientation in which the door opens and the side the hinges are located

Passage: A handle set without an internal locking mechanism. A passage set is used on a door that doesn't require privacy, for example; between a living room and a kitchen or closet.

Passage/Privacy Latch: A spring loaded mechanism that slides it's bolt into a strike plate on a door jamb, securing the door shut and disengages when the attached knob or lever is turned.

Privacy: A handle set with a locking mechanism. Typically used for bathroom and bedroom doors.

Privacy Pin: A pin that engages the privacy feature on the latch from the interior side of the rosette. Can be disengaged in an emergency by inserting a narrow object (like the end of a paperclip) into the emergency release hole on the exterior rosette.

Re-keying: The changing of a lock’s internal pins in order to make the tumbler combination fit a different key.

Rosette: A decorative trim plate that goes between the knob/lever/handle and door, used in both door and cabinet hardware.

Single Cylinder: A deadbolt featuring a key way on the exterior and thumb turn on the interior.

Strike Plate: The metal plate installed on the door jamb that receives the latch bolt when the door is closed.

Thumb Turn: The turn piece located on the inside trim of a deadbolt that engages/disengages the latch mechanism.