A "shear connector stud," also commonly called a "shear stud," is a metal fastener used in construction to connect a concrete slab to a steel beam, transferring shear forces between the two materials and creating a composite action, essentially acting as a mechanical anchor to hold the concrete and steel together in a single structural unit; it is typically a headed stud with one end welded to the steel beam and the other embedded in the concrete slab, providing resistance against horizontal shear loads