How do "explosive bolts" really work?

As I understand it, explosive bolts are used to separate/jettison spent stages of multi-stage rockets, as well as the canopies of fighter jets (when the ejection sequence is initiated).

Are these really bolts made from sort of stable explosive? Or are they just metal bolts designed to break in a particular manner when triggered by a controller?

They’re metal bolts with explosive charges imbedded within.