protection

thumb|right|The shell of a sea turtle provides protection from predators. thumb|right|A suit of armor, crafted for a [[knight and their mount to wear as protection from potential enemies.]] thumb|Safety equipment and supervisor instructions at a construction site to provide protection to workers. alt=A padlock superimposed over a blue circuit board pattern.|thumb|right|The image of a padlock superimposed over a circuit board pattern symbolizes internal protections in a computer system. thumb|Consumer protection laws often mandate the posting of informative notices, such as this one which appears in all Auto mechanic|automotive repair shops in [[California.]] thumb|Roses with protection against freezing - [[Volksgarten, Vienna]] Protection is any measure taken to guard something against damage caused by outside forces. Protection can be provided to physical objects, including organisms, to systems, and to intangible things like civil and political rights. Although the mechanisms for providing protection vary widely, the basic meaning of the term remains the same. This is illustrated by an explanation found in a manual on electrical wiring:

Some kind of protection is a characteristic of all life, as living things have evolved at least some protective mechanisms to counter damaging environmental phenomena, such as ultraviolet light. Biological membranes such as bark on trees and skin on animals offer protection from various threats, with skin playing a key role in protecting organisms against pathogens and excessive water loss. Additional structures like scales and hair offer further protection from the elements and from predators, with some animals having features such as spines or camouflage serving exclusively as anti-predator adaptations. Many animals supplement the protection afforded by their physiology by burrowing or otherwise adopting habitats or behaviors that insulate them from potential sources of harm. Humans originally began wearing clothing and building shelters in prehistoric times for protection from the elements. Both humans and animals are also often concerned with the protection of others, with adult animals being particularly inclined to seek to protect their young from elements of nature and from predators.