What type of glass shatters into small pieces when broken?

Tempered glass is specifically designed to shatter into small, blunt pieces when it breaks, which reduces the risk of injury from sharp shards. This safety feature is achieved through a process of extreme heating and rapid cooling during its manufacturing, making the glass much stronger than regular glass. When broken, tempering causes the glass to fracture in a way that prevents sharp edges, thereby enhancing safety for passengers in vehicles, buildings, and other applications where tempered glass is used.

Other types of glass, such as laminated glass, are designed to hold together when shattered due to the layers of plastic interlayer; plate glass is a traditional glass type that tends to break into larger, sharp shards; and regular glass may also break in a similar manner to plate glass, creating risk to anyone nearby. The unique properties of tempered glass make it a popular choice in situations where safety is a concern.