Bail is what you pay the court. It is collateral against you turning back up when it's time for trial. The court holds the money and gives it back to you when you show up. If you don't show up, they keep the money, in addition to whatever further legal problems you have for skipping a court date.

If you do not have enough to pay bail, there are private bail bondsman companies. You pay them 10% of the bail amount, and they pay the bail money to the court. When you show up, the company gets their bail money back, and they keep the 10% you paid because that's how they make their money.