Often spotted around a car windshield, the black dots aesthetically dissolve into small specks at the outer edge.
The black windshield dots appear as solid bands near the edge and gradually spread at the lining of a windscreen.
Windshield dots serve four major purposes to the car, as part of the measures meant to protect the driver and vehicle.
"First, they serve as a contact point between the glass and car frame. They create etches on the surface, making them rougher so the adhesive can stick better to the glass," Shirl Autobody, a car panel specialist, explained.
Motor vehicle body panel expert, Zack Defield, also explained that the black windshield dots are also used to bond the glass to the frame.
"They use those black enamel outside the windshield to block the sun’s ultraviolet rays from melting the adhesive underneath the band. This keeps the windows firmly glued in place," Zack explained.
The dots are designed to distribute temperature evenly around the windshield so as to prevent it from cracking under excessive heat.
Motor vehicle body panel expert, Zack Defield explained that windshield dots do strengthen windscreen frit bands in a matter that creates an optical distortion.
The distribution of heat then makes either straight lines look curved or bowed inwards toward the center.
"They gradually sink black dots to help lessen this phenomenon by dissipating the heat and spreading it out evenly," Zack noted.
According to Motor vehicle body panel experts, frit bands and windshield dots do contrast between the dark band and the transparent glass to provide a conspicuous view of the car.
"Creating a halftone pattern or dot-matrix allows a gradual decrease in size, making the transition much more subtle and easier on the eye," Shirl Autobody explained.
However, black windshield dots have evolved over the years with an addition of third visor frits right behind the rearview mirror to block the sun between two sun visors.
"Some car manufacturers have also become more creative by using their brand logos as substitutes for these small dots. Others add graphic images to make them more unique and eye-catching," Shirl Autobody explained.
