Bondage is the practice of consentually tying , binding , or restraining a partner for erotic , aesthetic , andor somatosensory stimulation . Rope , cuffs , bondage tape , selfadhering bandage , or other restraints may be used for this purpose . Bondage itself does not necessarily imply sadomasochism . Bondage may be used as an end into itself , as in the case of rope bondage and breast bondage . It may also be used as a part of sex or in conjunction with other BDSM activities . The letter B in the acronym BDSM comes from the word bondage . Sexuality and erotica are an important aspect in bondage , but are often not the end in itself . Aesthetics also plays an important role in bondage . A common reason for the active partner to tie up their partner is so both may gain pleasure from the restrained partner ' s submission and the feeling of the temporary transfer of control and power . For sadomasochistic people , bondage is often used as a means to an end , where the restrained partner is more accessible to other sadomasochistic behaviour . However , bondage can also be used for its own sake . The restrained partner can derive tactile pleasure from the feeling of helplessness and immobility , and the active partner can derive visual pleasure and satisfaction from seeing their partner tied up .