A shredder is a machine designed to cut paper and other materials into small pieces, making it difficult to read or reconstruct the original documents. Shredders are commonly used in offices and homes to dispose of sensitive information securely, such as financial records or personal data. There are different types of shredders, including strip-cut, cross-cut, and micro-cut, each offering varying levels of security. Many shredders can also handle materials like credit cards and CDs, ensuring that confidential information remains protected from unauthorized access.