A cap is a form of headgear. Caps have crowns that fit closer than hats and have no brim or only a visor. They are typically designed for warmth and, when including a visor, blocking sunlight from the eyes. Caps are generally soft and often have no brim or just a peak (like on a baseball cap). For many centuries women wore a variety of head-coverings which were called caps. For example, in the 18th and 19th centuries a cap was a kind of head covering made of a flimsy fabric such as muslin; it was worn indoors or under a bonnet by married women, or older unmarried women who were "on the shelf"



Caps are available in variety of shapes and designs which are discussed below

Peaked caps

A peaked cap, forage cap or combination cap is a form of headgear worn by the armed forces of many nations and also by many uniformed civilian organizations such as law enforcement agencies. In the United States military, they are commonly known as service caps, wheel caps, or combination covers in the Naval services.

The cap has a crown, a band, and a peak (British English) or visor (American English). The crown is one color, often white for navies, light blue for air forces, and green for armies, and may be piped around the edge in a different color. The band can be one color, often black, or can be striped, vertically or horizontally. Most caps have some form of cap device (or cap badge). In the British Army, each regiment and corps has a different badge. In the American armed forces, the cap device is uniform throughout the branch of service, though different variants are used by different rank classes. The peak or visor is short, historically made of leather, or in newer caps may be a shiny plastic. Sometimes it is covered in black fabric when adorned with embroidered ornamentation.

Swimming caps

A swim cap, or bathing cap, is a silicone, latex or lycra cap worn on the head by reccsreational and competitive swimmers.

Caps are worn to keep the hair relatively dry or free of chlorinated water, and keep water out of the ears when worn with ear plugs. Some facilities require the wearing of swim caps, as they are used to protect filters from becoming clogged with hair.

Competitive swim caps are made of tightly fitted silicone or latex that hugs the skull of its user, providing cover for his or her hair. This reduces drag in the water caused by loose hair. During longer swimming sessions a swim cap keeps the head warm.

Flat caps

A flat cap is a rounded men's cap with a small stiff brim in front. Cloths used to make the cap range from tweed (most common) to cotton driving caps for summer wear, sometimes featuring air vents. Less common materials may include leather A flat cap is a rounded cap generally male worn, especially in England, with a small brim in front and a somewhat stiff peak in the back. Materials range from wool, tweed and leather to lighter summer versions in polyester, perforated tiny vents to allow air to circulate.

Wearing a cap, that provides shade for your face, neck and ears, can play a major part in the prevention of the effects of the sun upon the skin. For a hat to provide maximum protection from the sun, it should be one of a tightly woven material, which is a usually Leather caps. Leather caps keep the heat in; this makes a keynote for any sort of headgears.