A pendant is a hanging object, generally attached to a necklace or an earring. Pendants can have several functions:

• ornamentation
• identification (i.e. religious symbols, sexual symbols, symbols of rock bands)
• protection (i.e. amulets, religious symbols)
• self-affirmation (i.e. initials, names)
• ostentation (i.e. jewels).
• award (i.e Scouting Ireland Chief Scout's Award, Order of CúChulainn)

These purposes can be combined (i.e. a richly jewelled symbol).