A bumper is a vital safety feature on all vehicles and in order for a car to be considered roadworthy, it's a legal requirement to have both front and rear bumpers fitted.
The front bumper reinforcer, is essentially a sturdy metal bar bolted on to the front bumper, or onto the subframe behind, which acts as a bolster to the bumper, providing extra protection, and supporting the role of the bumper in the event of a frontal collision.
The job of the front bumper is to absorb the impact of a crash, offering protection to the car, by minimising damage to the frame and body of the car as well as internal and external parts. The front bumper also serves to protect the occupants of the car in the event of a crash. By absorbing some of the impact of the collision, the bumper minimizes the force of the crash for driver and passengers.
The front bumper is fixed to a bumper bracket on the front of the car, enabling it to absorb some of the impact from a head on collision. The bumper front reinforcer is fixed onto the front bumper, or to the subframe behind, and functions to assist the front bumper, adding extra reinforcement.
If the bumper front reinforcer needs replacing, having suffered damage in an accident, for example, it's advisable to buy a new or replacement part that has been manufactured to fit the make, model and year of your car.