shards

A shard is a fragment of a brittle material, most commonly ceramic, glass, or stone. Shards are typically irregular and have sharp edges, produced by breakage from impact, stress, or temperature change. The term applies across disciplines to any piece that remains of a larger object.

In archaeology and material studies, pottery fragments are often called sherds, while 'shard' is more frequently used for glass or metal fragments. Shards recovered from sites are cataloged and analyzed to infer manufacturing methods, dating, origin, and use. The context in which a shard is found helps researchers interpret its function and the culture that produced it.

In computing and information technology, sharding refers to distributing data across multiple machines. Each partition is called a shard. Sharding aims to improve performance, scalability, and availability by limiting the amount of data any single node must manage. Implementations vary by data model and infrastructure.

Shards can pose safety hazards due to sharp edges and fragility. Handling requires care, protective gear when necessary, and proper disposal. In historical and cultural contexts, shard fragments are preserved and studied as material evidence of human activity and technological development.