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There are many materials that get used for CAULKING. The word 'caulking' comes from Old French - the word 'cauker' means 'to press down'.

Caulking materials are sold in large (28 ounce) and small (10 ounce) tubes that are lined with foil or plastic on the inside surface, to allow the liquid to flow out easily. The caulking material will remain flexible after it cures / dries.

A caulking material may also be called a SEALANT. It is used primarily to close gaps that could allow air or water to penetrate into an assembly. For example, the gap that happens around the perimeter of a window where the trim meets the drywall may be SEALED with a caulking material like acrylic latex caulking.

COMMON TYPES of CAULKING MATERIAL are:

• Acrylic latex - sometimes known as 'painters caulking', good for interiors;
  
• Vinyl latex - a bit more durable and less permeable than acrylic, good for exteriors;
  
• Silicon - very durable and flexible, can last a long time;
• Acoustic sealant - butyl and polymer sealant, usually black or grey and used for providing a flexible seal between construction materials. Not good where anyone will see it;
• Asphalt sealant - Used for sealing cracks in your driveway or a street.
  

AN IMPORTANT THING TO KNOW ABOUT CAULKING: A sealant is not the same thing as an ADHESIVE.

An ADHESIVE material is used to glue things together permanently, so they can't be separated. One example might be when construction adhesive in a tube and caulking gun is applied to plywood subfloor when a house is being framed. These types of adhesives might be made of polyurethane monomers, acrylic resin or other glues.