An eraser or rubber is an article of stationery that is used for removing pencil and sometimes pen writings. Erasers have a rubbery consistency and are often white, brown or pink, although modern materials allow them to be made in any color. Many pencils are equipped with an eraser on one end. Typical erasers are made from synthetic rubber, but more expensive or specialized erasers can also contain vinyl, plastic, or gum-like materials. Other, cheaper erasers can be made out of synthetic soy-based gum.
Prior to the invention of the rubber eraser, tablets of wax were used to erase lead/charcoal marks from paper. It has been claimed that crustless bread was, in the past, commonly used as an eraser; this is possible, but the bread would disintegrate, and would at that time most likely have been too costly to replace.
