What does a multimeter primarily measure?

A multimeter is primarily used to measure current, voltage, and resistance, making it an essential tool in electrical diagnostics and troubleshooting. It operates by utilizing different settings to check these three fundamental electrical properties.

When measuring current, a multimeter can be set to the appropriate mode to determine how much electrical current flows through a circuit, either in amps or milliamps. For voltage measurements, it can be adjusted to measure the potential difference between two points in a circuit, expressed in volts. Lastly, when set to measure resistance, the multimeter can assess how much a component resists the flow of electrical current, typically measured in ohms.

While it can be helpful in various other roles—such as assessing frequency or power consumption—its primary functions are centered around current, voltage, and resistance, which are crucial for diagnosing and repairing electrical systems. Understanding these core measurements allows users to successfully evaluate circuit performance and identify potential issues.