This is an emergency hook used to secure items. Suppose you're in a public bathroom, and there is no hook to place your backpack, or jacket on. And you definitely don't want to put it on the floor. Just loop the cord through the bag handle, secure it into one of the slots, then place the hook at the top of the door. Easy. You can also loop the cord around a bar, and use the hook to hold items. It will also work on a flat surface if you are at lunch and don't want your bag/purse on the floor, or on the table. Really, it's just limited to what you can imagine.