Door Latches: Spring Bolts and Everyday Security
A latch is a primary component of many locks.
Latch Types
Deadlatch: A latch with a beveled edge that is locked by end pressure.
Deadlocking Night Latch: A latch that uses repeated actions to lock, double lock, or unlock.
Latches vs. Deadbolts
Latches are angled so closing the door automatically engages the strike; deadbolts require deliberate throwing. Fire codes often mandate latching hardware on egress doors while allowing separate deadbolts for night security.
Deadlocking Features
Quality deadlatches include a deadlocking plunger (privacy pin) that prevents retraction unless the knob is turned — blocking carding/loiding attacks that push the latch back from the gap between door and frame.
Loiding and Bypass
Inward-opening spring latches are vulnerable to shim tools slid between door and jamb. See our loiding article for how bypass works and how hardware counters it.
Locksmith Practice
Sticky latches often trace to misaligned strikes, swollen doors, or worn springs — not always a cylinder problem. Technicians adjust strike plates, replace latch bolts, and verify deadlocking pins engage before recommending full lock replacement.