Which type of fasteners is characterized by their use in securing gates and panels?

Cotter pins are widely used to secure gates and panels due to their simplicity and effectiveness. They are designed to fit into a hole and are then bent over to create a secure fastening. This feature makes them particularly suitable for applications where components must be securely held in place but may also need to be disassembled or adjusted, as in the case of gates and panels that may require maintenance or repositioning. The ease of installation and removal adds to their utility in these applications.

In contrast, other types of fasteners like snap rings and rivets are typically employed in different applications; snap rings are used to secure components within grooves, while rivets provide a permanent fastening method that doesn't allow for easy disassembly. Bar keys, on the other hand, are often used to to secure rotating elements to shafts. Thus, cotter pins stand out for their specific function in applications involving gates and panels.