I want to know about Nikkor 18-55mm lens hood?

I want to buy a nikon 18-55mm lens hood. I will use it with my nikon d5100 camera. What is the benefits of lens hood? I want to know about lens hood? And ehat is the price of lens hood in US$

There are at least two benefits of a lens hood: 1) it protects the lens from strong light like the sun, preventing lens flare, 2) it protects the lens from some physical harm by protruding beyond the lens. You can get the price of your lens hood from Amazon, B&H, or Nikon.

Don't bother with a lens hood with the 18-55. All modern lenses are coated anyway. Screw on filters are meh.

1) make sure you buy a lens hood speicifally designed for your 18-55 mm lens, if you don't, either you will get vignetting when the lens is at 18 mm or the hood will be of little use.

2) having a lens hood is NOT a substitute for protecting the front element of your cameras lens.

Here is a link that shows how a filter saved my $800 lens and in the photo, you will see that the lens hood did nothing but break, not protecting the lens at all. A lens hood will certainly NOT protect the lenses front element from sticky fingers

Lens hoods prevent stray light from the sides entering the lens. It also serves as a physical protector to the front end of your lens.

ASFAIK, the Nikkor 18-55mm uses a circular lens hood, not petal, since the front end turns as it focuses. Price? Look it up yourself at B&H.