You've found the handle. You love the finish. Then while searching online you see terms like passage, privacy, dummy or entrance set – and suddenly you're questioning what you're buying.
It's the single most common point of confusion when ordering door hardware, and it's entirely fixable. The “function” simply describes how the handle works – whether it latches, whether it locks, and how. Get the function right for each room and every door in your home does exactly what it should. Here's the whole picture.
The four functions, explained
Passage – for doors that don't need to lock
A passage set latches the door shut but does not lock. You turn the handle, the latch releases, the door opens. That's it.
Where it belongs: hallways, walk-in robes, kids' playrooms, laundries – any door you want to stay closed but never need to lock. Passage is the workhorse function and usually the most common set in a home.
Privacy – for bathrooms and bedrooms
A privacy set latches and locks, but with a simple turn snib or push-pin on the inside – no key required. From the outside there's an emergency release so a locked bathroom can always be opened in a hurry.
Where it belongs: bathrooms, ensuites, toilets and bedrooms – anywhere you want to be able to lock the door from the inside for privacy, but don't need key security.
Entrance / keyed – for external doors
An entrance set (also called a keyed set) locks with a key from the outside and usually a turn-snib from the inside. This is your security function, and for external doors it's often paired with, or built into, a mortice lock or with a deadbolt for extra protection.
Where it belongs: front doors, back doors, garage-to-house doors, and any external entry. If you're choosing hardware for your main entrance, our guide to traditional mortice vs roller mortice locks is the natural next read.
Dummy – for doors that don't move (or don't latch)
A dummy handle is a fixed handle with no latch and no moving parts. It's purely there to pull or push, and to complete the look.
Where it belongs: one half of a pair of French or double doors (where the other door carries the working latch), pantry or linen cupboard doors that use a magnetic or roller catch, and any decorative door where you want a matching handle without a mechanism.
A room-by-room cheat sheet
| Room / door | Function you need |
|---|---|
| Front door / external doors | Entrance / keyed (often with a mortice lock or deadbolt) |
| Bathroom, ensuite, toilet | Privacy |
| Bedroom | Privacy (or passage, if you don't want a lock) |
| Hallway, linen, walk-in robe | Passage |
| Laundry, kids' rooms | Passage |
| One of a pair of French doors | Dummy (the other door takes the working set) |
| Pantry with a catch | Dummy or passage |
Now that the mechanics make sense, the fun part is choosing a look you'll enjoy every day.
Explore our lever range – available across passage, privacy and entrance functions in Antique Bronze, Brushed Brass, Satin Nickel, Gunmetal Grey, Matte Black and White →
