Reel - Definition and Overview

A reel may also refer to a type of dance and its accompanying music. See reel (dance).

A reel is a solid object around which lengths of another material (usually long and flexible) are wound for storage. Generally a reel has a cylindrical core and walls on the sides to retain the material wound around the core. In some cases the core is hollow, although other items may be mounted on it, and grips may exist for mechanically turning the reel.

The size of the core is dependant on several factors. A smaller core will obviously allow more material to be stored in a given space. There is a limit to how tightly the stored material can be wound without damaging it and this places a minimus on the size of the core. Also sometimes the core may be made larger to allow for stuff to be mounted on it as in the case of an extension reel for example.

With material such as photographic film that is flat and long, but is relatively wide, generally the material is stored in successive single layers. In cases where the material is more uniform in cross-section (for example, a cable), the material may be safely wound around a reel that is wider than its width. In this case, several windings are needed to create a layer on the reel.