Question about Bacteria?

wikipedia:
The function of the slime layer is to protect the bacteria cells from environmental dangers such as antibiotics and desiccation. The slime layer also allows bacteria to adhere to smooth surfaces such as prosthetic medical devices and catheters.
i think youre mixing up the two different functions
see the first function is that the slime layer protects the cells from environmental dangers beuase it prevents the contact of the microorganisms or chemical with the bacteruim. This doesnt mean it does so by sticking to another bacteruim, it just means the cause of danger is prevented from touching the bacteria.
the other function helps it to stick to things such as your hands, food, surgical equipments etc to search for food or because it finds better conditions for growth or reproduction on that particualr surface. Thats what the adhering property is used for.
I'm not really sure about the point i made but this is how i memorized it

The slime capsule is there to make it harder for things to bind to the bacteria in the first place, i.e. antibodies, this will make it harder for phagocytes to recognise them and phagocytose them. Clumping together would also effectively reduce the surface area available for things to bind to the bacteria

Oh right, that makes sense. However, in my textbook it says The capsusle makes it easier for things to stick. This is what's confusing me, it says that the capsule is also used for Bacteria to stick together, which is some sort of defence mechanism. Is that correct?

I don't know too much about capsules tbh, but when it says stick, it is most likely referring to other things with a similar composition, if you think of a capsule as a layer of carbohydrates etc, it is going to stick stick to other cells with a similar layering, such as other bacteria and cells with a glycocalyx. On the other hand, it is going to be harder for things like phagocytes to attach to the bacteria, so the capsule helps the bacteria avoid being taken in by phagocytes. I did mention that it will prevent antibodies from binding too, but I take that back, antibodies are so variable that there will be antibodies that can bind to components of the capsule, however binding by a thing called complement might be affected, but don't worry about that. As I said before, binding to eachother will also reduce surface area, which could be a defense mechanism I suppose