A fracture pattern describes the appearance of a fracture after the bond has been destroyed (cf. adhesion, cohesion, bonding fracture or mixed fracture). In addition to a value for the bond strength (tensile shear strength, peel resistance), which is determined differently depending on the test, the course of the fracture provides important information.

A distinction is made, among other things:
- Break between adhesive and part to be joined: Adhesion break (adhesion)
- Fracture in the adhesive: Cohesive fracture (Cohesion)
- Breakage of the joining part: Breakage of the joining part
- Different forms of mixed fraction
- Material tear-out, material delamination (e.g. in fiber-reinforced plastic).

The study of fracture patterns is an important part of all materials and materials science and is used to monitor the quality and integrity of materials.