Beginner question, skewers

[Wilf76]

This will probably seem like a silly question to all here who have modern bikes, but I'm an old-timer recently returning to the bike world so please bear with me. I keep seeing references to "Skewers" in various posts, what exactly are they? I know they are something to do with wheel hubs, but I've never heard of them in my long ago cycling career, what do they do?
As I say, sorry for the lack of "Modern" knowledge, perhaps back in my day they were called something else?

Wilf

 

[Smokin Joe]

They're the quick release mechanisms on hubs.

 

[Herzog]

...and a video.

 

[Brandane]

And another video, to show how to use them once they are fitted to the wheel:

 

[Wilf76]

Ah Ha! light dawns! Many thanks for your help, I can see that I am going to have to learn a great deal before I am up to speed on these modern bikes!

 

[Smokin Joe]

Ah Ha! light dawns! Many thanks for your help, I can see that I am going to have to learn a great deal before I am up to speed on these modern bikes!

Er, they've been around since 1927 when Tullio Campagnolo made the first one

 

[Wilf76]

Er, they've been around since 1927 when Tullio Campagnolo made the first one

I remember quick wheel releases back in the day, never came across the term "skewers" though, but then the kind of bikes us kids could afford didn't have many niceties of any kind, racing bikes which did have them were things we just drooled over in bike shop windows!