A limb is an elastic component attached to both the upper and lower ends of the bow. It generates the stored energy (elastic force) when the bow is drawn and provides the power that launches the arrow.
Although it may look like a simple elongated plate, it is actually a high-performance piece of sports engineering that determines all shooting characteristics—strength, elasticity, recoil, torsion resistance, and vibration control.

In short, the limb is the engine of the bow.
How cleanly the archer draws and releases the string, and how stable and fast the arrow flies, are all greatly influenced by the limb’s performance.