Which type of screws typically engages a threaded hole on metal or plastic?

Machine screws are designed specifically to fit into pre-threaded holes, making them ideal for fastening metal or plastic components. They can be used in conjunction with nuts or directly into threaded materials, thus providing a secure connection. Machine screws come in various sizes and thread patterns to accommodate different applications, which enables them to maintain strength and hold when fastening parts together.

Options such as self-tapping screws are meant to create their own threads as they are driven into materials, and wood screws are primarily designed for use in wood, where they do not require pre-threaded holes. Thread forming screws, while capable of displacing material to form threads, are more specialized and not as universally applicable to pre-threaded scenarios as machine screws.