In metallurgy, stainless steel, also known as inox steel or inox from French inoxydable (inoxidizable), is a steel alloy with a minimum of 10.5%  chromium  content by mass.

Stainless steel is notable for its corrosion resistance, and it is widely used for food handling and cutlery among many other applications.

Stainless steel is used for corrosion-resistant tools such as this nutcracker.

Stainless steel does not readily corrode, rust or stain with water as ordinary steel does. However, it is not fully stain-proof in low-oxygen, high- salinity , or poor air-circulation environments. There are various grades and surface finishes of stainless steel to suit the environment the alloy must endure. Stainless steel is used where both the properties of steel and corrosion resistance  are required.