A fidget spinner is a type of stress relieving toy. A basic fidget spinner consists of a bearing in the center of a design made from any of a variety of materials including brass, stainless steel, titanium, copper and plastic.

The toy may help people who have trouble focusing or fidgeting by acting as a release mechanism for nervous energy or stress and ADHD.

The types of bearings generally used are ceramic, metal (stainless steel or chrome) and hybrid. Different bearings adjust the vibration, noise, and spin time of the fidget spinner leading to unique sensory feedback.

The invention was patented in 1997 by Catherine A. Hettinger in the U.S. The patent was surrendered by its inventor in 2005, and many manufacturers have started creating spinners in different shapes and designs.

In spring 2017, the fidget spinner’s popularity began to increase greatly. Many publications referred to the fidget spinner as a fad, with some journalists comparing it to water bottle flipping’s rise in popularity from 2016. The New York Post detailed, The so called fidget spinners, low-tech, low-price stress relieving toys, are a huge fad sweeping the country, and stores can’t keep them in stock.

Some Schools are banning these fidget spinners because of how some people don’t use them correctly. These new popular toys are soon probably be the biggest hit with toys who knows?