The stainless steel machine screw has a plain finish and a binding head with a slotted drive. Stainless steel resists corrosion and may be magnetic. The slotted drive has a linear slot for use with a flat-blade driver. The binding head is a slightly undercut, low-profile head with a round top and short vertical sides. The head is shorter and wider than a pan head, enabling use in applications that would normally require a washer with the screw. The undercut feature binds wires beneath the head, making this head style a common choice for electrical applications.

Machine screws are threaded fasteners that are typically used with nuts or drilled and tapped (threaded) holes. Machine screws are available with a variety of head shapes, which determine how the screw interacts with the mating surface, and drive styles, which determine the type of driver required to install and remove the screw.