A Stomp Box (stɑ́mp bɑ́ks) is also commonly referred to as a “foot pedal,” which is an electronic device used by electric guitar players to modify their instrument’s sound. As stomp boxes are equipped with foot-activated switches, their name refers to the practice of putting the device on the floor and using a foot to turn it on and off.

As with all pedals, guitarists plug their instruments into a stomp box and then plug that device into an amplifiers. Guitarists who wish to use several stomp boxes often mount them on pedalboards, which are designed to accommodate provide power to a number of pedals. Most pedals will also run on batteries (usually 9v). Most pedals have several other controls to tweak their characteristics, such as gain, volume, or tone knobs. Certain pedals such as volume pedals and wahs can be manipulated with a foot as the guitarist plays.