Rigid tapping is a method of creating internal threads in a workpiece using a tap that is held in a rigid tap holder, which is mounted in the spindle of a machine tool. This method is in contrast to "hand tapping", where the tap is held by hand and rotated manually, or "float tapping" where the tap is held in a floating holder that allows it to move slightly in all axis to align with the hole being tapped.

In Rigid Tapping, the tap is held in a holder that prevents it from moving or flexing during the tapping operation, which provides more accurate and consistent threads. It also generates less heat, vibration and machine stress as compared to hand tapping or floating tapping.

It is commonly used in CNC machines and other machine tools with high precision and speed requirements, where the tap must maintain a consistent position and alignment with the hole being tapped. It is also used when tapping a hole in a material that is brittle or prone to cracking, such as cast iron or aluminum alloys.