The diamond patch on your backpack actually has a purpose!

You’ve seen it a million times, but have probably never paid it any attention. Because like so many other things in life, when you don’t know what something is used for, you just ignore it. Well that tiny diamond patch on backpacks that you thought was there for decoration actually has a purpose after all.

Marie Claire has brought our attention to the intent of that little diamond-shaped patch you’ll find on many Jansport backpacks, and as it turns out, it’s not a pencil holder or a secure place to hold your strings as you make friendship bracelets.

Although, TBH, it works for those things too.

The leather patch is called a “lash tab” or “pig snout,” and it’s original purpose was to hold extra gear on cords to be strung through the openings. You know, important stuff that you’d need access to  immediately and can’t be bothered to rummage through your backpack to find.

Things like a flashlight, extra shoes, a hat, a canteen (thirst can happen at any moment, you guys), a bandana, or a string of dental floss you might need later.

You can even use the little patch to keep your earphones untangled, which we all know can definitely be a struggle.

Is it worth spending the time hooking things onto that little patch and then off again when you need them? Probably not. But that doesn’t make the intent of it any less cool or fun to know about. So that tiny, weirdly placed patch isn’t so useless after all. Who woulda thought.