A modern braking system is made up of the following parts:
Brake lines which supply the brake fluid
Brake pads. These blocks press against your brake discs to slow the car down
Brake callipers. These house the brake pads and push them against the discs
Brake discs. These are metal rotors that spin with your wheels
Brake fluid which provides the pressure to push the brake pads against the discs
Most modern vehicles now use anti-lock braking systems (ABS) to make braking safer. They can identify wheels that are about to lock up and help you avoid a skid or loss of control under heavy braking. The only surfaces where ABS isn’t effective are ice, gravel or other slippery surfaces.