Originally Posted by bigbadwullf

Don't get confused between clip pedals and clipless pedals. For a beginner they may mean the opposite. Clips are the old kind of pedals with the straps(clips) that hold the shoe onto the pedal. "Clipless" pedals are the new(er) kind of pedal that you, well, CLIP your shoe into the pedal. Makes no sense to a newcomer I know, but that is just the terminology that has developed over the years.
Clip pedals: straps
Clipless pedals: no straps(clips), but you do indeed clip your shoe into the pedal. A true misnomer but you have to know the old terminology of pedals to get it. Also know as SPD pedals in mountain biking.

Mountain bikes got away from the "clipless" notation and call them SPDs.

Hope that clears things up a bit but it can be confusing.