A semi-automatic pistol is a type of handgun that uses the energy from firing a round to automatically cycle the action and load the next round into the chamber. This means that after each shot, the shooter only needs to pull the trigger again to fire the next round, making it faster than a revolver, which requires manual cocking or cycling. These pistols typically have a magazine that holds multiple rounds, allowing for quick follow-up shots without needing to reload after each shot. Common examples of semi-automatic pistols include models from brands like Glock, Sig Sauer, and Beretta.