The flow control element of a gate valve (called a gate, wedge, or slide) enters the fluid path from the side and traverses it until the fluid .path is completely closed off, stopping the flow.
When the valve is open, the gate is entirely out of the fluid path. Thus flow is in a straight line, with very little resistance from the valve. Because the gate valve is symmetrical, either end can be the inlet, and thus flow can be from either direction through the valve (BIDIRECTIONAL VALVE).
The form of control for which gate valves are suited is starting and stopping flow. Gate valves, as are other valve types used for this kind of control, are frequently referred to stop valves or block valves.
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