Tension wrench
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A tension wrench is a tool used in picking locks. Typically shaped like a letter "L" (although the vertical part of the letter is much elongated in comparison to the horizontal part), it is used to apply tension to the inner cylinder of a lock, in order to hold any picked pins in place, while the other pins are shifted. The tension wrench is then used to turn the inner cylinder and open the lock.
Some tension wrenches (called "Feather Touch" wrenches, among other names) are coiled into a spring at the bend in the "L", which helps the user apply constant torque. Some users, however, maintain that such wrenches reduce torque control and the feedback available to the user.
When lockpicking is shown in movies and television shows, the tension wrench is almost always omitted. Opening a pin and tumbler lock by imitating the depicted method is impossible, which was presumably why this convention was adopted.