An antistatic mat is a flat mat, usually made from material that can be rolled up for easy storage, which allows for the safe distribution of static electricity. Any type of electrical shock, including built-up static electricity, can potentially damage some electrical components, including various types of computer hardware. The use of an antistatic mat can prevent this type of damage by placing a motherboard, hard drive, random access memory (RAM), or other component on the mat while it is out of the computer case. These mats typically have a length of wire that can be connected to a grounded object, conducting any electricity through the mat and away from the components.

　　One of the most common uses of an antistatic mat is in the computer industry, where such mats are used by people working on computer components. Many types of internal computer hardware can be damaged if exposed directly to an electrical shock. Such damage can effectively render the hardware useless, so computer manufacturers frequently provide these mats for employees. Computers can then be safely assembled on an antistatic mat to ensure that the components are not damaged during installation into the computer tower or case.