What is the purpose of an adjustable wrench?

The purpose of an adjustable wrench is to accommodate various sizes of nuts and bolts, which allows for versatility and convenience when working with different fasteners. The adjustable feature enables the user to open and close the jaw of the wrench to fit different sizes, making it an essential tool in many mechanical and construction tasks. This capability eliminates the need for multiple wrenches, saving time and effort when switching between tasks that require different sizes of fittings.

It’s important to recognize that while the adjustable wrench can indeed help with torque application, that is not its primary designated purpose in the context of its design and functionality, which centers around its ability to adapt to different fastener sizes.