Gold plating is a method of depositing a thin layer of gold onto the surface of another metal, most often stainless steel, Aluminium, copper, or silver, by a chemical or electrochemical (electroplating) process. Plating refers to modern coating methods, such as the ones used in the interior decoration, jewelry, and electronics industries, whereas gilding is the decorative covering of an object with gold, which typically involves more traditional methods and much larger objects.