A cam lock is a mechanical lock in which a rotating flat metal plate — called a cam — extends behind the lock body to secure a cabinet, drawer, panel, or enclosure. When the correct key turns the cylinder, the cam rotates either 90° or 180°, catching or releasing a strike plate to hold the cabinet door shut. Cam locks are one of the most widely deployed mechanical locks in industrial and commercial hardware because they are compact, reliable, and available across a consistent range of standardized diameters.