护木位于枪械前端，用以保护射手免于直接接触发射时可能非常热的枪管。护木亦可提供空间让其他设备附于枪械之上，例如榴弹发射器、战术灯、前握把、雷射指示器等。

A handguard on firearms is a guard attached to the front of a firearm to grip the weapon from the front. It allows the user protection from the barrel, which may become very hot when firing. It also gives room for more attachments to the weapon itself, such as an M203 grenade launcher.