A match is a small, thin piece of wood or other material that can be ignited to produce fire. It typically consists of an inflammable substance, such as phosphorus or potassium chlorate, applied to one end of a narrow strip of cardboard or paper, while the other end is coated with a water-soluble iodide compound. When struck against a matchbox, friction ignites the inflammable substance and it burns away rapidly, creating enough heat to light the main body of the match which then continues to burn until the head is broken off or doused with water.