Gluons
Massless elementary gauge bosons that mediate the strong nuclear force between quarks in quantum chromodynamics (QCD).
Governing formula
Spin = 1, Mass = 0, 8 Color-Anticolor Combinations
SI unit
Gauge Boson Class
In depth
Unlike electrodynamic photons which carry no electric charge, gluons themselves carry color charge (a color and an anticolor). Consequently, gluons interact among themselves, giving rise to color confinement and flux tubes.
Examples in the real world
8 color octet gluons continuously binding up and down quarks inside protons and neutrons.