A rim lock is a locking device that attaches to the surface of a door.
The original type of lock used in England and Ireland it is of a basic design originally of a very stiff lever and a bolt with wards being the block. As wards were outdated in the centre of the key it became normal for them to be placed on the sides of the bit. Although today these are still produced they are mostly for internal doors and are not used for high security. Older ones could be as large as 40cm by 25cm. Most rimlocks used today on exterior doors in the British Isles are nightlatches.