The pointed metal part of a steel-tip dart is called the point.
The point is the section that enters the sisal dartboard. In a conventional steel-tip dart, it is attached to the front of the barrel and provides the penetration needed for the dart to remain in the board. Points may be fixed or replaceable, depending on the dart’s construction.
The other principal parts have different names and functions. The barrel is the gripped central body, the shaft or stem connects the barrel to the flight, and the flight stabilises the dart during its movement through the air. Confusing the point with the barrel is a common beginner’s mistake because the two parts meet at the front of the dart.
Soft-tip darts use a plastic tip rather than the sharp metal point used for steel-tip play. The distinction matters because steel-tip and soft-tip darts use different boards and may have different equipment regulations.