Grappler
The grappler was a metal cable with an effector on the end that could be launched by a starship to grapple objects in space. The grapplers utilized a magnetic lock device to clamp to objects.

The  starships of Starfleet were equipped with two grapplers. However, their use was eventually superseded by the development of the superior tractor beam. ()

22nd century Starfleet s were also equipped with a grappler on their aft section. ()

Shortly after its launch in 2151, Enterprise used the grappler to capture a , which was evacuated by its lone Suliban occupant and brought aboard Enterprise. The ship was then used by Enterprise crew to infiltrate the Suliban helix. ()

In the same year, Enterprise encountered a hostile alien ship, that used a grappler-like technology. ()

Later that same year, Enterprise Captain Jonathan Archer attempted to use his ship's grappler to retrieve , which had fallen into a chasm within Archer's Comet. Although only one of the two grappler claws latched onto the , it proved sufficient enough to reel the craft back to the ship. However, the eisillium in the comet's composition began to disrupt the grappler's magnetic lock, and Enterprise was forced to lower and release the pod before the connection broke. Fortunately, a Vulcan ship was near by to offer assistance, and following a reluctant request by Captain Archer, the Vulcans were able to retrieve the shuttlepod using their starship's tractor beam. ()

Also in 2151, Enterprise again used the grappler to retrieve its own shuttlepod after it had been stolen by a female Klingon. Three Enterprise crewmembers had used the pod to board a  scout vessel, the , which was sinking into the atmosphere of a gas giant. The ship's engineer, Bu'kaH, hijacked the pod, stranding the three crewmen aboard her endangered ship. She then attempted to contact her people to falsely blame Enterprise for the attack on her ship which landed it inside the gas giant, but the pod was captured via the Enterprises grapplers and Bu'kaH was brought aboard. ()

In 2154, Enterprise successfully disabled a pursuing Klingon  battle cruiser by using the grappler to shear its port nacelle until the vessel could no longer generate a stable warp field. ()

The Orions also utilized grapplers on their ships. In 2154, Harrad-Sar's vessel was equipped with such a device. ()

Majalan combat cruisers were equipped with grapplers as of 2259. ()

The swarm species used similar devices on their ships to clamp onto and attach themselves to the hulls of trespassing vessels and drain energy from them through their hulls. ()

The Vidiians made use of a similar technology on board their starships in 2371 and 2372. ()

By 2380, Pakled Clumpships were equipped with massive grapplers, used to restrain and tear apart other starships for their technology and materials. ()
de:Greifer
ja:グラップラー
Spacecraft components