What is the function of a paring knife?

A quality paring knife is a small sharp knife used in paring fruits or vegetables. Its small size and multipurpose use makes it one of the most used knives in home and commercial kitchens as it lends itself to a variety of cutting uses (e.g. peeling, trimming, coring, garnishing). Its blade length, which can range from 2 3/4 to 4 inches, is short compared to other kitchen cutlery and has a curved or tapered cutting edge, similar to that of a small chef's knife.