Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), also known as manual metal arc welding (MMA or MMAW), flux shielded arc welding or informally as stick welding, is a manual arc welding process that uses a consumable electrode covered with a flux to lay the weld.

This is a well established and extremely versatile method of welding. Submerged-arc welding (SAW) involves the formation of an arc between a continuously fed electrode and the work piece.
A blanket of powdered flux, which generates a protective gas shield and a slag (and may also be used to add alloying elements to the weld pool), protects the weld zone. A shielding gas is not required.

Submerged arc welding is an arc welding process in which heat is generated by an arc which is produced between bare consumable electrode wire and the workpiece.

MIG welding is an arc welding process in which a continuous solid wire electrode is fed through a welding gun and into the weld pool, joining the two base materials together. A shielding gas is also sent through the welding gun and protects the weld pool from contamination. In fact, MIG stands for metal inert gas.