Hydraulics is a mechanical function that operates through the force of liquid pressure. In hydraulics-based systems, mechanical movement is produced by contained, pumped liquid, typically through hydraulic cylinders moving pistons. Hydraulic fluid creates fluid power by pumping the fluid through the hydraulic system. The fluid flows to the cylinder through the valve, and the hydraulic energy converts it back to mechanical energy. The valves aid to direct the flow of the fluid and the pressure can be relieved if needed.

Pneumatic systems are widely used in all sorts of machines, engines and industrial applications. Every pneumatic system runs on compressed air or gas, in order to move an actuator, and can be as simple as a single air-driven piston, or as complex as a mining operation with multiple actuators.

Pneumatic systems use gas or pressurized air to move cylinders, motors or other mechanical parts. Pneumatics applications are relevant to a wide variety of industries, including construction, healthcare, mining, the automotive industry and many others.

Valves on a pump control the flow of liquid through a pump. These help to regulate pressure within a pump and prevent against possible breakage. Any pump should have two valves attached; one at the inlet, or suction, and the other at the outlet, or discharge area.

Valves are for starting or stopping flow, regulating or throttling flow, preventing back flow or relieving and regulating pressure in fluid or gaseous handling applications. Common valve types include: Ball,Butterfly,Check, Diaphragm, Gate, Globe, Knife Gate, Parallel Slide, Pinch, Piston, Plug, Sluice, etc.

Pumps can be classified by their method of displacement into positive-displacement pumps, impulse pumps, velocity pumps, gravity pumps, steam pumps and valveless pumps. There are three basic types of pumps: positive-displacement, centrifugal and axial-flow pumps.