bomben

Bombs are explosive devices designed to release energy rapidly to damage, destroy, or kill. They generally consist of a casing, an explosive charge, and a triggering mechanism, and are intended to be delivered by aircraft, missiles, artillery, or by hand. The primary effects include blast overpressure, fragmentation, and, in incendiary variants, destructive heat.

Historically, bombs have evolved from crude incendiaries and gunpowder-filled containers to standardized munitions capable of mass production. The development of more powerful and reliable explosives such as TNT in the late 19th and early 20th centuries enabled modern aerial bombing. World War II saw widespread use of high-explosive and fragmentation bombs, followed by the introduction of guided and precision bombs in the late 20th century. Nuclear and thermobaric weapons represent separate, more advanced categories with far greater energy release, but they are outside the scope of conventional bombs.

Bombs are classified by purpose and effect: high-explosive bombs are designed to destroy structures through blast; fragmentation bombs maximize shrapnel to injure personnel; incendiaries aim to start fires; anti-personnel and anti-armor variants exist within these families. Guidance systems, including laser or GPS guidance, have transformed many bombs into precision munitions.

Unexploded ordnance remains a hazard after conflicts, requiring trained explosive ordnance disposal teams. In war, the use of bombs is subject to international humanitarian law, which seeks to limit civilian harm and protect non-combatants; certain classes of weapons are restricted or prohibited in various treaties and customary law.