Instrumentstools

Instrumentstools is a general, nonstandard term used to refer to devices and implements that serve as both instruments for measurement or observation and tools for manipulation or construction. In practice, the phrase is used in catalogs, museum labels, and some industry texts to group items that cross traditional boundaries between instrument and tool.

In science and engineering, instrumentstools include measurement instruments such as calibrated thermometers, pressure gauges, multimeters, and data loggers alongside physical hand tools such as calipers, micrometers, screwdrivers, wrenches, and pry bars. In laboratories, probes and sensors function as instruments, while fixtures and clamps function as tools; together they form kits used for testing, calibration, or assembly. In music and audio production, instrumentstools can describe devices that function as both musical instruments and audio tools, such as electronic keyboards that generate tones and also interface with software, as well as tuners, metronomes, and effects units.

Terminology and classification vary by institution. Some catalogs treat instrumentstools as a single category for ease of search, while others separate instruments and tools but label crossovers accordingly. The concept highlights the overlap between measurement, assessment, and fabrication, and reflects how many real-world devices serve multiple roles depending on context.