The average orb-weaver spider takes 30 to 60 minutes to completely spin its web. These species of spiders (order Araneae) use silk to capture their food in a variety of ways, ranging from the simple trip wires used by large bird-eating spiders to the complicated and beautiful webs spun by orb spiders. Some species produce funnel-shaped webs, and other communities of spiders build communal webs.

A completed web features several spokes leading from the initial structure. The number and nature of the spokes depend on the species. The spider replaces any damaged threads by gathering up the thread in front of it and producing a new one behind it. The orb web must be replaced every few days because it loses its stickiness (and its ability to entrap food).