Pirates are considered by the general opinion as lawless renegades, excluded from society, sailing and attacking merchants boats to seize their property.

They are often showed as characters without manners, often cruel, who has nasty scars on their face, sometimes with one eye, and with a hook replacing a hand or a wooden leg.
These characters who really existed often appear in literature and adventure films, and still inspire writers and scriptwriters.
Pirate crews gathered around strict codes of piracy and functioned as a limited democracy.
A leader, the captain, was appointed by crew members who were also under his authority.
Another person was designated as a Quarter Master, acted as a counter power. He might also develop a mutiny if the captain failed to manage its duties.

In fiction, pirates are often portrayed as selfish and unscrupulous adventurers constantly looking for hidden treasures on deserted islands filled with dangers.