Crimping tools may be broadly defined as devices to make connections between two items using compressive force to constrict or deform a specially designed connector element. These devices fall into two basic categories: hand operated and powered. The most common of these two groups are the hand operated varieties which are generally used to crimp smaller electrical connections. Powered crimping tools usually make use of a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid to execute the crimp and are typically for joints which are too robust to crimp by hand. Within these two groups, crimping tools are again divided into categories defined by the crimp type they produce.

Hand operated crimpers are the most frequently used of all crimping tool types. Most are designed in a basic plier pattern with one or a number of crimping points machined into their jaws. This type of tool is typically used to effect smaller crimps on steel cables, electrical connections and terminations, preinsulated lugs and ferrules, and RJ type plugs. The crimp points on hand crimpers are either half round compression or cup and tab crimp type designs. This type of crimper is generally used to crimp steel or copper ferrules or sleeves to join two lengths of steel or electrical cable