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Outsole

The term outsole or sole, as related to the footwear industry, refers to the outermost, typically rubber section of the shoe which comes into contact with the ground. The outsole is the portion of the shoe that provides traction and is the only part of the shoe that is in direct contact with the ground. The outsole is made of some combination of rubber or other synthetic material and is meant to protect the foot from the ground surface. An outsole can be found on all shoes, as it is the main component that makes a shoe, a shoe. The type of outsole found on a shoe is denoted by the anticipated function of the shoe. The outsole of the shoe comes in the most direct contact with the ground so it is the first part of the shoe to wear out.