# What's the purpose of that black strip on a windshield? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 19, 2022, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-that-black-strip-on-a-windshield/961345 "2022-03-19T15:56:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-that-black-strip-on-a-windshield/961345/1 "2022-03-19T15:56:35Z")
Lots of newer cars now come with a windshield that has a 2 or 3 inch black strip around the edge. Does that strip have a function? Maybe it’s supposed to enhance the appearance, but beyond that, is there a reason for its presence? Does it do anything? What’s the point? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-that-black-strip-on-a-windshield/961345/2 "2022-03-19T15:59:19Z")
Do you mean tint strips? I thought they were intended to reduce glare, though they don’t seem too efficient for that purpose. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-that-black-strip-on-a-windshield/961345/3 "2022-03-19T16:18:43Z")
Nope. I see that there are products that are designed to block the sun from the very top of the windshield, but these strips I’m talking about go all the way around the windshield. In fact, in this video from YouTube ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZrB3L1mO28](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZrB3L1mO28)) a guy instructs you how to install one of these blocking strips. And if you notice, the car he’s installing it on already has these black strips I’m talking about. I really doubt that the intention of the car manufacturers is to block one or two inches of light beyond what the structure of the car already blocks. They might as well just make the windshield smaller. ---
**Author:** ![KMS94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ad7895/32.png) [@KMS94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KMS94)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-that-black-strip-on-a-windshield/961345/4 "2022-03-19T16:24:03Z")
I’d guess it’s likely cosmetic. If it was clear glass all the way to the edge, you’d easily see the smooshed black adhesive used to hold the windshield in place. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-that-black-strip-on-a-windshield/961345/5 "2022-03-19T16:31:50Z")
Do some vehicles have radio antennas embedded in the windshield? ---
**Author:** ![Daithi\_Lacha](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daithi_lacha/32/5430_2.png) [@Daithi\_Lacha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daithi_Lacha)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-that-black-strip-on-a-windshield/961345/6 "2022-03-19T16:33:23Z")
I may be way, way off base, but I remember a friend’s car in the 80s didn’t have a radio antenna; instead, the antenna was built into (embedded?) around the border of the windshield. Could that be at play here, it’s an AM “loop” antenna? ---
**Author:** ![jjakucyk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3d9bf3/32.png) [@jjakucyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjakucyk)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-that-black-strip-on-a-windshield/961345/7 "2022-03-19T16:43:38Z")
> [@KMS94](#): > > If it was clear glass all the way to the edge, you’d easily see the smooshed black adhesive used to hold the windshield in place. That’s my understanding. > [@Daithi\_Lacha](#): > > Could that be at play here, it’s an AM “loop” antenna? No, antennas need to be thin wires. I remember a car with AM only (1982 Oldsmobile Cutlass sedan) and two wires went up the middle of the windshield about 1/2" apart then they turned 90º and ran across the top. You can see one [here](https://www.classicindustries.com/product/gn110245t.html) though it disappears in the tint at the top of the windshield. Nowadays the antennas are integrated into the rear window and just look like defroster wires, but if you look closely they form a loop and aren’t connected to the actual defroster wires. Usually there’s two or three rows at the top and a couple at the bottom, I assume one is for AM and the other is for FM. The shark fin antennas on the roof are for satellite radio. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-that-black-strip-on-a-windshield/961345/8 "2022-03-19T16:54:28Z")
As stated above, it’s to hide the adhesive used to hold the windshield in. Windshields are now an integral part of the safety of modern cars, they are design to withstand the impact if the airbags are deployed. The black tint is also designed to absorb heat so it doesn’t transfer to the adhesive, heat can soften the adhesive making it less effective. This is a much better method that the old way of installing windshields with rubber seals, metal clips and shiny chrome trim. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-that-black-strip-on-a-windshield/961345/9 "2022-03-19T17:04:11Z")
Beautiful, **racer72!** The SDMB continues to fight ignorance. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2022, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-that-black-strip-on-a-windshield/961345/10 "2022-03-20T03:07:00Z")
It is called a frit or frit band. It is thin ceramic paint imbedded in the windshield, and as already noted it has to do with the bonding of the windshield to the windshield frame. The windshield used to be held in by some metal trim and clips around the edge of the glass, now the glass is bonded directly to the windshield frame. The black frits with the little black dots helps protect the bonding glue from UV radiation, makes the bonding glue adhere to the glass better, and it does hide the glue. The edge of the glass is a weak point and the frit makes it stronger. Also, as noted, the windshield is now an integral part of the car that keeps it safer in a roll over. This is why a cop may give you a ticket for a cracked windshield. Not because of some stupid regulation, but because the cars structure has now been compromised. ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2022, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-that-black-strip-on-a-windshield/961345/11 "2022-03-25T01:39:03Z")
I was told by a salesman that the pattern was used to help the robots orient the windshield correctly during manufacturing. I like the “helps the glue” story better. Perhaps both are true. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2022, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-that-black-strip-on-a-windshield/961345/12 "2022-03-25T01:58:22Z")
Is this something only done at the factory, or would it be replaced with a windshield replacement?