A valve plays a vital role in managing the flow of liquids, gases, and other materials through pipelines. Different valves have various functions such as opening, closing, or partially obstructing different passageways.
A valve controls the flow of a fluid by starting or stopping its flow, regulating its flow (throttling), controlling pressure of the flow, and/or preventing backflow. Components of a valve include a body, seat, disc (sometimes called a core), seal, and an actuator. Different types of valves service different types of applications.