Examples of scrapers. InAmerican English, the rubber scraper (left) is often called a spatula by some because it is a flat utensil used for scraping or spreading.
In kitchen utensils, a spatula is any utensil fitting the above description. One variety is used to lift and flip food items during cooking, such as pancakesand fillets. These are usually made of plastic, with a wooden or plastic handle to insulate them from heat.
A frosting spatula is also known as palette knife and is usually made of metal or plastic.
Bowl and plate scrapers are sometimes called spatulas.