Chad refers to fragments sometimes created when holes are made in a paper, card or similar synthetic materials, such as computer punched tape or punched cards. The word "chad" has been used both as a mass noun and as a countable noun.
Chads from punched cards. Each chad is about 3 mm (1⁄8 in) long.
Votomatic voting machines of the type used in the 2000 election in Florida
The chip (chad) receiver from a UNIVAC key punch
Pouring chads from a jar at the Computer History Museum
A hole punch, also known as hole puncher, or paper puncher, is an office tool that is used to create holes in sheets of paper, often for the purpose of collecting the sheets in a binder or folder. A hole punch can also refer to similar tools for other materials, such as leather, cloth, or sheets of plastic or metal.
Three different international-standard two-hole punches
Common handheld single-hole punch
Eyelet punch press
German four-hole punch