A striker is the part of a semi-automatic handgun which does not utilize a hammer to impact the primer on a cartridge to fire the projectile. Similar to a “firing pin” in a rifle, the striker is housed inside the firearm and is held back by spring tension when the slide is racked back and released forward. The trigger pull releases the spring tension, allowing the striker to impact the primer and fire the round. Striker-fired semi-automatic handguns are distinct from hammer-fired handguns because they typically do not have an external or visible hammer that impacts the cartridge.