Half lap, mitred half lap, cross lap and dovetail lap are the four most commonly used forms of the lap joint. Each style has a cut characteristic that makes it easily identifiable. Lap joints can be divided generally into two categories: full and half. Full laps do not remove any material from either part being joined, so the end results incorporate the full combined thickness of the original pieces. Half laps are much more common as they provide an equally secure bond but allow for smooth transitions and even thicknesses throughout a project.