Dominoes can be arranged in straight lines, curved tracks that form pictures, grids that make up 3D structures such as towers or pyramids, and even in stacked walls. They are a popular toy and can be used for games such as racing or laying out long domino lines. Dominoes are often made from a variety of materials, including bone, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl), ivory, and dark hardwoods such as ebony. Their pips, or dots, are usually inlaid or painted.

Dominos were first a fad in Italy, Austria, and southern Germany before becoming popular in France in the early 18th century. It was in France that the word “domino” was first recorded, although other names such as bones, cards, men, and pieces have been used. The fad spread to England and to the United States in the 1860s.

The most common domino sets contain 28 tiles. The dominoes are normally twice as long as they are wide and each end has a value that is represented by a number of dots, or pips, either in white or black. The sum of the values on either side of a domino is also known as its rank or weight. A domino that has more pips has a higher rank than one with fewer pips.

There are many different types of domino games, and each game has a specific set of rules that must be followed. The most popular are blocking and scoring games, which involve moving pieces across a domino board and scoring points for making certain combinations.

While most people play dominoes for fun, some use it as a tool to help them achieve a goal. For example, someone struggling with an addiction may use a domino to break the chain of behavior that leads to drug and alcohol abuse. The goal is to break the pattern that leads to relapse and to replace it with healthier habits.

Whether it is a new diet, exercise regimen, or personal development strategy, the best way to get a domino effect going is to keep things simple and stick with them. Trying to take on too much at once can overwhelm the mind and the body, making it hard to maintain any positive change. Instead, try to build small, manageable behaviors that you can stick with for a long time.

In the early days of Domino’s, founder Tom Monaghan understood that if his pizza was delivered quickly and to the right place, it would be popular with students at local colleges. This strategy allowed the company to gain a loyal client base and grow rapidly.

In addition to focusing on what was already working, Domino’s was also quick to embrace the internet and mobile technology. The company was one of the first pizza chains to offer online ordering and an online Pizza Tracker. The company’s ability to respond to changing consumer needs fueled the growth of Domino’s into a worldwide empire.