Founded in Stamford, Connecticut in the 1840s by Linus Yale and Henry Towne, Yale is one of the oldest and most well-known lock manufacturers in the world. Over the course of its history, the company has expanded from making simple locks to more complex bank safes and now serves customers in over 120 countries.

Today, Yale is known for making some of the most advanced smart locks on the market such as the Yale Assure and Nextouch. This is thanks to the company's long history of making durable and reliable products, as well as a close engineering partnership with sister brand August. Its Yale Smart Living division focuses mostly on consumer markets while Yale Smart Residential offers solution for multi-family dwellings.

Recognizing Yale's strong brand and global presence, the Swedish conglomerate Assa Abloy acquired Yale in August 2000, adding Yale's products to Assa's already wide range of offerings. In 2017, Assa Abloy acquired August locks and combined many of its marketing and engineering units under one roof. In 2022, Assa Abloy sold Yale and August to Fortune Brands in order to purchase Kwikset.