Holsters are generally designed to offer protection to the object, secure retention, and Gun Holsters ready access. The need for ready access is often at odds with the longing for security and protection, so the user must decide how much they are amenable to compromise on ready access to gain the security and protection.

Holsters must somewhat secure an object, so they must provide some means of doing so. The simplest type is a pouch, ideally one that closely fits the shape of the something it holds, while more circuitous holsters may clip onto the object, holding it at undisturbed well defined points.