Aterminal is the point at which aconductor from acomponent, device ornetwork comes to an end.[1]Terminal may also refer to anelectrical connector at this endpoint, acting as the reusable interface to a conductor and creating a point where externalcircuits can be connected.[2][3] A terminal may simply be the end of a wire or it may be fitted with aconnector orfastener.[citation needed]
Innetwork analysis,terminal means a point at which connections can be made to a network in theory and does not necessarily refer to any physical object. In this context, especially in older documents, it is sometimes called apole. On circuit diagrams, terminals for external connections are denoted by empty circles.[4] They are distinguished fromnodes orjunctions which are entirely internal to the circuit and are denoted by solid circles.[5]
Allelectrochemical cells have two terminals (electrodes) which are referred to as theanode andcathode or positive (+) and negative (–). On manydry batteries, the positive terminal (cathode) is a protruding metal cap, and the negative terminal (anode) is a flat metal disc(seeBattery terminal). In agalvanic cell such as a commonAA battery, electrons flow from the negative terminal to the positive terminal, while theconventional current is opposite to this.[6]
