In the mathematical field of knot theory, a 2-bridge knot is a knot which can be isotoped so that the natural height function given by the z-coordinate has only two maxima and two minima as critical points. Equivalently, these are the knots with bridge number 2, the smallest possible bridge number for a nontrivial knot.
Other names for 2-bridge knots are rational knots, 4-plats, and Viergeflechte (German for four braids). 2-bridge links are defined similarly as above, but each component will have one min and max. 2-bridge knots were classified by Horst Schubert, using the fact that the 2-sheeted branched cover of the 3-sphere over the knot is a lens space.
The names rational knot and rational link were coined by John Conway who defined them as arising from numerator closures of rational tangles.