What is Resistor? Types of Resistor, Applications of Resistor

What is Resistor?

A resistor is an passive electrical or electronic component that restricts or resists or limits the flow of electric current in a circuit. The resistor is a very important, useful, and basic component in electrical and electronic circuits. A resistor resists the flow of electric current because it is made of a material that has properties that make it difficult for electric charges (electrons) to move through it. This material made the resistor acts as a kind of obstacle to the flow of current and reduces the amount of current that can pass through it. More resistance means less flow of electric current.

Now you may think why it is called Resistor. It is very Simple. The name "resistor" comes from its function in a circuit. The component "resists" the flow of electric current, meaning it hinders or limits the amount of current that can pass through it. Since it resists the flow of electric current, it is called a resistor. The term "resistor" is derived from the verb "to resist," which means to oppose or hinder something. 

Inside a resistor, there are so many atoms and electrons. When a voltage is applied across the resistor, the electric field created by the voltage pushes the electrons to move through the material. However, as the electrons move, they collide with the atoms in the material. These collisions impede the movement of the electrons, causing them to slow down and lose energy. Thus a resistor resists the flow of electric current.

Different Types of Resistors with Their Applications

Here is the list of all types of Resistors with the important factors based on which the resistor is classified or has different names and their uses, and applications.

Different Types of Resistors	Factors Based on which the resistor is classified or named	Applications & Uses
Linear Resistor	based on the relationship between Voltage and Current	Used in voltage divider circuits, as Load Resistor, Current Limiting
Non-Linear Resistor	based on the relationship between Voltage and Current	Used for volume control, Light Dimming, Temperature Control
Fixed Resistor	No manual adjustment of the resistance value	Current Limiting, Voltage Division circuit, Timing, and RC Circuits
Variable Resistor	Manual adjustment of the resistance value	Volume and Gain Control, Sensing and Calibration, Temperature Compensation
Precision Resistors	highly accurate resistance values with low tolerance and temperature coefficient	used in precision instrumentation, calibration standards, and measurements
Power Resistors	designed to handle high power levels without getting damaged	used in high-power circuits
Surface Mount Resistors	designed for surface mount technology (SMT) soldering	used in compact electronic devices and printed circuit boards
High-Frequency Resistors	designed to have low parasitic capacitance and inductance for use in high-frequency	Used in radio frequency (RF) circuits
Thermistors	resistance value changes with temperature	used in temperature sensing and control applications
Light Dependent Resistor(LDR)	resistance varies with the intensity of light falling on it	Used for automatic streetlights or camera exposure control
Carbon Composition Resistor	made of a mixture of carbon and a binder material	Used in voltage dividers, motor control circuits, audio amplifiers
Carbon Film Resistor	Made with thin carbon film deposited on a ceramic rod or substrate	used in general electronic circuits
Metal Film Resistor	Made with the thin metal film deposited on a ceramic rod or substrate	used in audio and precision applications
Metal Oxide Film Resistor	Made with thin metal oxide film deposited on a ceramic rod or substrate	Used for high-power and high-temperature applications
Wirewound Resistor	made by winding a resistive wire around a non-conductive core	used in power electronics and high-frequency applications
Thick Film Resistor	Created by screen-printing a resistive paste onto a ceramic substrate	used in a wide range of chip or low-cost electronic applications
Thin Film Resistor	made by depositing a thin resistive layer onto a ceramic or silicon substrate	used in applications that require high accuracy and stability, such as precision measuring equipment and medical devices
Fusible Resistor	designed to act as both resistors and fuses	Used for over-current protection, as fault detectors in circuits
Varistor or Voltage Dependent Resistor(VDR)	Resistance changes with the applied voltage	used to protect electronic circuits from voltage surges and transients by absorbing excess voltage
Carbon Pile Resistor	Made by the stack of carbon discs compressed together	used in applications where high power dissipation and adjustable resistance are required, such as load banks for testing electrical systems
Semiconductor Resistor	resistors integrated into semiconductor devices	Used in transistors or integrated circuits (ICs)
Wire Grid Resistor	constructed using a grid-like structure made of a high-resistance wire wound in a specific pattern	used in high-power applications, such as power supplies and amplifiers
Water-Cooled Resistor	resistor element immersed in a water-cooled enclosure	Used in high-power applications where more heat generates
Surge Resistor	designed to handle high-voltage surges or transients without getting damaged	used in applications where voltage surges are expected, such as in power distribution systems
Chip Resistor Array	consist of multiple resistors integrated into a single-chip package	used in space-constrained electronic designs, allowing for efficient placement of multiple resistors in a small footprint
Silicon Resistor	made of a silicon material with carefully controlled impurities to achieve a specific resistance value	used in high-temperature applications, such as in the aerospace or automotive industries
Carbon Nanotube Resistor	Made by using carbon nanotubes as  a resistive element	used in high-power applications, such as power electronics and electric vehicle systems
Foil Resistor	constructed by depositing a resistive material onto a thin metal foil	Used for precise measurement and calibration applications
Zero-Ohm Resistor	have zero resistance	used to bridge connections on a PCB, allowing for easy configuration changes or circuit modifications
Chip-on-glass (COG) resistor	integrated into the glass substrate of a display module	used in applications where space is limited, such as in LCD panels for driver circuit
MELF (Metal Electrode Leadless Face) resistor	They are cylindrical resistors with metal electrodes at each end	used in automotive, industrial, and telecommunications applications
Power Shunt Resistor	designed to measure or divert high currents accurately	Used for current sensing, power monitoring, and load-balancing applications
Printed Resistor	fabricated by printing a resistive ink or paste onto a substrate	Used in Flexible electronic Devices or gadgets
Wire Bond Resistor	created by wire bonding a resistive wire onto a substrate or lead frame	used in hybrid integrated circuits (ICs) and microwave circuits
Current-Sensing Resistor	designed specifically for accurate measurement of electric current flowing through a circuit	Used in measurement applications
Integrated Resistor	resistive elements incorporated directly into integrated circuits	Used in complex integrated electronic circuits
Resistance Temperature Detector(RTD)	Resistance changes with temperature	used in industrial and scientific applications where precise temperature measurements are required

Read Also: 

• Resistor VS Transistor | The Main Differences
• What is Load Resistor or Load Resistance? Examples, Use
• Resistance Reactance Difference, Effects, Example, Application
• Resistance Formula | All Formulas and Equations Explain
• All Types of Resistor Symbols and Diagrams

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