What is the hard protective plate located at the end of the finger or toe called?

The hard protective plate located at the end of the finger or toe is referred to as the natural nail. This is the visible part of the nail that extends beyond the nail bed and is composed mostly of a protein called keratin. The primary function of the natural nail is to protect the sensitive fingertips and enhance the ability to grasp objects.

The other terms represent different parts of the nail system: the nail bed is the skin underneath the nail plate, the cuticle is the layer of skin that overlaps the base of the nail, and the lunula is the crescent-shaped area at the base of the nail that is often visible. Each of these parts has its own distinct role in nail health and function, but they do not refer to the actual hard plate of the nail itself.