Driver and bit identifier

Phillips (PH)

PH000, PH00, PH0, PH1, PH2

Designed to cam out (slip) under high torque. PH00 and PH0 cover almost all laptop and phone screws.

Typically: Laptops, appliances, general assembly

JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard)

JIS 000 to 2

Looks like Phillips but has a small dot next to the cross. A Phillips driver will chew it up. Common on Japanese cameras and electronics.

Typically: Cameras, motorcycles, Japanese electronics

Torx (T / TX)

T3 to T30 for small work

Six-point star, very hard to cam out. T5 and T6 are the usual laptop and phone sizes.

Typically: Laptops, phones, automotive, bike disc rotors

Torx Security (TR)

TR6 to TR20

Same star with a pin in the middle. You need a hollow security bit.

Typically: Consoles, appliances, public equipment

Pentalobe (P)

P2 (0.8 mm), P5 (1.2 mm), P6 (1.5 mm)

Apple's five-lobed screw. P2 is the iPhone bottom screw, P5 is the MacBook bottom case.

Typically: Apple devices

Tri-point / Y-type (Y000)

Y000, Y0, Y1

Three-wing drive used inside Apple watches, Nintendo consoles and some phone brackets.

Typically: Apple Watch, Nintendo, phone internals

Hex socket (Allen)

0.7 mm to 5 mm for small screws

Strong and cheap. Metric keys only — SAE keys round out metric sockets.

Typically: Machines, bikes, 3D printers, extrusion

Slotted

1.0 mm to 4 mm blade

Still standard on terminal blocks and eyewear. Match blade width to the slot or you will burr it.

Typically: Electrical terminals, eyewear, vintage gear

Square (Robertson)

R0, R1, R2

Holds the bit without pressure. Mostly North American woodwork and some electronics.

Typically: Woodwork, electrical boxes