The SI unit of electric current is the ampere, named after French physicist André-Marie Ampère.
An electric current measures the rate at which electric charge flows through a circuit. One ampere corresponds to one coulomb of charge passing a point each second. In symbols, 1 A = 1 C/s. This definition connects current with the movement of charged particles, such as electrons in a metal wire.
Ampère made foundational contributions to electrodynamics in the early nineteenth century. His work helped establish the relationship between electric currents and magnetic effects, and the unit’s name honors that legacy. The ampere is one of the seven base units of the International System of Units.
A common mix-up is confusing current with voltage. Current describes charge flow, while voltage describes electric potential difference that can drive that flow. Resistance describes how strongly a material opposes the current.