Bändern

Bändern is the German noun associated with long, narrow strips or bands and appears in several contexts. In everyday German, Bänder commonly refer to ribbons, sashes, belts, or straps used to bind, fasten, decorate, or carry items. They can be made from fabric, leather, metal, or plastic and vary in width, length, and finish. In fashion and textiles, examples include decorative ribbons and hatbands, as well as sewing trims such as piping.

Anatomy and medicine also use Bänder to denote ligaments—fibrous bands that connect bones or organs and stabilize joints. Examples include Kreuzbänder (cruciate ligaments) in the knee and Seitenbänder (collateral ligaments). The term emphasizes the binding and stabilizing function of these structures.

In science and engineering, Bänder describe ranges or segments of similar properties, such as frequency bands in communications or spectral bands in spectroscopy. The concept is used to classify energy ranges, wavelengths, or signal channels.

Originating from Old High German band, meaning a binding or tie, the term reflects the common function of Bänder as flexible, binding strips in many contexts.