Why do spiders spin webs?

Spiders spin webs primarily to catch prey. Most spiders create webs with silk produced by specialized glands in their abdomen. The silk is used to construct intricate, sticky webs that trap flying or crawling insects. Some spiders, like orb-weavers, build large, circular webs, while others, like cobweb spiders, create irregular, tangled structures. Webs also serve as a protective home for the spider and a place for laying eggs. Certain species of spiders use their silk to create draglines for movement and to escape predators.