Protection can be provided to physical objects, including organisms, to systems, and to intangible things like civil and political rights.
Although the mechanisms for providing protection vary widely, the basic meaning of the term remains the same.
[4] Additional structures like scales and hair offer further protection from the elements and from predators, with some animals having features such as spines or camouflage serving exclusively as anti-predator adaptations.
Many animals supplement the protection afforded by their physiology by burrowing or otherwise adopting habitats or behaviors that insulate them from potential sources of harm.
Humans originally began wearing clothing and building shelters in prehistoric times for protection from the elements.