Some basic terms you must know.

1. Knots – A knot is done only with the use of one rope.
2. Bend – A bend is used when two ropes have to be joined together.
3. Hitch – A hitch is used for fastening two ropes together, or a rope to a ring, Bar or a Hook.

Components of knots.

1. bight  -A bight is any curved section, slack part, or loop between the ends of a rope, string, or yarn.
2. Bitter end- As a ropeworker’s term, “bitter end” refers to the end of a rope that is tied off.
3. Loop – A curve narrower than a bight but with separate ends.
   
4. Elbow – Two crossing points created by an extra twist in a loop or a circle.
   
5. Standing end – The standing end is the longer end of the rope not involved in the knot, often shown as unfinished. It is often (but not always) the end of the rope under load after the knot is complete. For example, when a clove hitch ties a boat to a pier, the end going to the boat is the standing end.
   
6. Standing part – Section of line between knot and the standing end (seen above).
   
7. Working end – The active end of a line used in making the knot. May also be called the “running end”, “live end”, or “tag end”.
   
8. Working Part – Section of line between knot and the working end.
   

The list of knots is extensive, but common properties allow for a useful system of categorization.

1. Bend – A knot uniting two lines (for knots joining two ends of the same line )
2. Binding – A knot that restricts object(s) by making multiple winds.
3. Coil knots – Knots used to tie up lines for storage.
4. Decorative knot – A complex knot exhibiting repeating patterns often constructed around and enhancing an object.
5. Hitch – A knot tied to a post, cable, ring, or spar.
6. Lashing- A knot used to hold (usually) poles together.
7. Loop – A knot used to create a closed circle in a line.
8. Plait – A number of lines interwoven in a simple regular pattern.
9. Slip – A knot tied with a hitch around one of its parts. In contrast, a loop is closed with a bend. While a slip knot can be closed, a loop remains the same size.
10. Seizing – A knot used to hold two lines or two parts of the same line together.
11. Sennit – A number of lines interwoven in a complex pattern.
12. Stopper – A knot tied to hold a line through a hole.