Toughened glass, also known as tempered glass, is a type of safety glass processed by controlled thermal or chemical treatments to increase its strength compared to normal glass. The toughening process puts the outer surfaces into compression and the interior into tension. Such stresses cause the glass, when broken, to crumble into small granular chunks instead of splintering into jagged shards as ordinary glass does. The granular chunks are less likely to cause injury, making toughened glass ideal for use in environments where human safety is a concern. Common applications include vehicle windows, shower doors, glass doors and tables, and as a component of bulletproof glass.