Skeleton key facts for kids

This picture shows a special skeleton key (right) that can open many locks with the same keyhole. Next to it is a regular key (left) that only opens one specific lock.

This is a key for a type of lock called a lever lock.

A skeleton key is a special kind of key that can open more than one lock. You might also hear it called a 'master key' or a 'pass key'. Imagine you have a set of locks, and instead of needing a different key for each one, a skeleton key can open all of them!

What is a Skeleton Key?

A skeleton key is designed to work with several locks that are set up in a specific way. It's like a "universal" key for a group of locks. These keys are very useful in places where many people need to access different areas, but a few people need to access all of them.

How Master Keys Work in Buildings

Let's think about an office building to understand how these keys are used.

• Each person who works there might have a key that only opens their own office door. This keeps their things safe.
• But the manager or owner of the building needs to get into every office. They would have a master key, which is a type of skeleton key, that opens all the office doors in the building.

Different Kinds of Master Keys

Sometimes, the system can be even more detailed.

• For example, if there are janitors who clean the building, each janitor might only clean one floor. That janitor could have a 'sub-master' key. This key would open all the offices on their specific floor, but not offices on other floors.
• Even with these sub-master keys, each employee still has their own key for their office, and the manager still has the main master key for everything.
• The main doors of the building might also be set up so that any employee's key, any janitor's sub-master key, or the manager's master key can open them.

Why Master Keys are Useful

Master key systems make it much easier to manage access to many rooms or areas. Instead of carrying a huge ring of keys, a person who needs to open many doors only needs one master key. This is very helpful for building managers, security staff, or even in schools and hotels. For these systems to work well, it's important to use locks that have many different key combinations. Some modern locks are especially good for this because they offer a huge number of ways to make keys.

Images for kids

• 

  These are two keys for a type of lock called a warded lock, along with a homemade skeleton key.

• 

  This picture shows a common set of skeleton keys. They are often used to open many types of warded padlocks.