Terminal (electronics)#Types of terminals

{{short description|Connection point in electronic circuits}}

{{Other uses|Terminal (disambiguation)}}

{{redirect|Pole (electrical circuits)|the poles of switches|Switch#Contact terminology}}

File:Electrical Terminal Symbol.svg

File:Terminal strip.jpg, to which wires can be soldered]]

A terminal is the point at which a conductor from a component, device or network comes to an end.{{cite web |url=http://www.interfacebus.com/Glossary-of-Terms_T.html |title=Definitions of Technical Terms - 'T' to 'Ter' |website=Electronic Engineering Dictionary |last1=Davis |first1=Larry |date=4 January 2012 |access-date=1 July 2019}} Terminal may also refer to an electrical connector at this endpoint, acting as the reusable interface to a conductor and creating a point where external circuits can be connected.{{cite book |url=https://www.zvei.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Presse_und_Medien/Publikationen/2016/November/Connectors_Technologies-and-Trends_engl/2016-11_Imagebroschuere_Steckverbinder_engl.pdf |title=Connectors - Technologies and Trends |date=August 2016 |publisher=ZVEI - German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association |page=51}}{{cite web |title=Terminal definition by Babylon’s free dictionary |url=https://dictionary.babylon-software.com/terminal/ |website=Babylon NG |at=terminal n 2 |last1=Barach |first1=John |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701022059/https://dictionary.babylon-software.com/terminal/ |archive-date=1 July 2019 |url-status=live}} A terminal may simply be the end of a wire or it may be fitted with a connector or fastener.{{citation needed|reason=Does the bare end of a wire really count as a terminal?|date=July 2019}}

In network 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 a pole. On circuit diagrams, terminals for external connections are denoted by empty circles.{{cite web |url=https://www.electronics-notes.com/articles/analogue_circuits/circuits-symbols-diagrams/wires-switches-connectors.php |title=Circuit Symbols for Wires, Cables, Switches, Connectors

|website=Electronics Notes |access-date=1 July 2019}} They are distinguished from nodes or junctions which are entirely internal to the circuit and are denoted by solid circles.{{cite book |title=Electronics Symbols Handbook |publisher=Cleveland Institute of Electronics |url=https://www.cie-wc.edu/Electronics_Symbols_Handbook_CIE.pdf |access-date=1 July 2019 |page=6}}

All electrochemical cells have two terminals (electrodes) which are referred to as the anode and cathode or positive (+) and negative (–). On many dry batteries, the positive terminal (cathode) is a protruding metal cap, and the negative terminal (anode) is a flat metal disc {{crossreference|selfref=no|text=(see Battery terminal)}}. In a galvanic cell such as a common AA battery, electrons flow from the negative terminal to the positive terminal, while the conventional current is opposite to this.{{cite web |title=An introduction to redox equilibria |url=http://www.chemguide.co.uk/physical/redoxeqia/introduction.html#top |publisher=Chemguide |accessdate=4 July 2019}}