A chef's knife is a large, heavy-duty knife that can be used for chopping and dicing vegetables, slicing meats, mincing garlic, and more. It is also sometimes called a French knife or cook's knife.
The shape of the blade varies somewhat between brands; however, most chef's knives are broad with a curved edge that tapers to the point where the blade meets the handle. Different brands of chefs' knives have different names for this type of knife but it is best known as a French or cook's knife. The chef's knife is not suited for fine chopping because its blade is too wide – this is something you'll want to do with an 8-inch santoku.
The chef's (or French) knife can be used in place of paring knives, utility knives, and boning knives as well. This versatility makes it one of the most important knives in a cook's knife collection.