In legal terms, what is "bail" used for?

Bail serves as a guarantee for a defendant's appearance at trial. When a person is arrested and charged with a crime, the court may allow them to be released from custody before their trial date, provided they pay a certain amount of money or property. This amount, determined by the court, acts as a financial assurance that the defendant will return for their scheduled court appearances. If the defendant fails to appear in court, the court can forfeit the bail, and the money may be lost.

In this context, providing legal counsel, filing a lawsuit, and summoning a witness do not involve the mechanics of bail. Legal counsel pertains to representation in legal matters, filing a lawsuit involves formally initiating a legal claim, and summoning a witness is about compelling someone to appear in court to provide testimony. None of these aspects are related to the function of bail in ensuring a defendant's court attendance.