Lock picking is the art of unlocking a lock

Lock (device)

A lock is a mechanical or electronic fastening device that is released by a physical object or secret information , or combination of more than one of these....

 by analyzing and manipulating the components of the lock device, without the original key. Although lock picking can be associated with criminal intent

Criminal intent

Criminal intent is the plan of a person to commit a crime. Criminal intent can be one of the requirements for convicting someone for a crime. Advocates for proving criminal intent believe that a person is only a criminal if they intended to do the crime....

, it is an essential skill for a locksmith

Locksmithing

Locksmithing began as the science and art of making and defeating locks. A lock is a mechanism that secures buildings, rooms, cabinets, objects, or other storage facilities. A key is often used to open a lock...

. Lock picking is the ideal way of opening a lock without the correct key, while not damaging the lock, allowing it to be rekeyed for later use, which is especially important with antique locks that would be impossible to replace if destructive entry methods were used.

The move towards combination locks

Combination lock

A combination lock is a type of lock in which a sequence of numbers or symbols is used to open the lock. The sequence may be entered using a single rotating dial which interacts with several discs or cams, by using a set of several rotating discs with inscribed numerals which directly interact with...

 for high security items such as safes was intended to remove the weakest part of the lock: its keyhole.

In normal situations it is almost always easier to gain access by some means other than lock picking; most common locks can be quickly and easily opened using a drill, bolt cutters

Bolt cutters

A bolt cutter, sometimes called bolt cropper, is a tool used for cutting chains, padlocks, bolts and wire mesh. The original use for bolt cutters was as the name suggests to cut bolt seals from shipping containers at the delivery point. It typically has long handles and short blades, with compound...

, padlock shim, a bump key

Lock bumping

Lock bumping is a lock picking technique for opening a pin tumbler lock using a specially crafted bump key. One bump key will work for all locks of the same type.-History:A US patent first appears in 1928 by H.R. Simpson called a "rapping" or bump-key...

 or a hydraulic jack.