Electronics is the study of the flow of charge through various materials and devices such as, semiconductors, resistors, inductors, capacitors, nano-structures, and vacuum tubes. All applications of electronics involve the transmission of power and possibly information. Although considered to be a theoretical branch of physics, the design and construction of electronic circuits to solve practical problems is an essential technique in the fields of electronics engineering and computer engineering.

The study of new semiconductor devices and surrounding technology is sometimes considered a branch of physics. This article focuses on engineering aspects of electronics. Other important topics include electronic waste and occupational health impacts of semiconductor manufacturing.

Electricity (from ήλεκτρον [electron], "amber") is a general term for a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of charge. This includes many well-known physical phenomena such as lightning, electromagnetic fields and electric currents, and is put to use in industrial applications such as electronics and electric power. These related, but distinct, concepts are better identified by more precise terms:

    * Electric field — an effect produced by an electric charge that exerts a force on charged objects in its vicinity.
    * Electric potential — the capacity of an electric field to do work, typically measured in volts (V).
    * Electric current — a movement or flow of electrically charged particles, typically measured in amperes (A).
    * Electrical energy — the energy made available by the flow of electric charge through an electrical conductor.
    * Electric power — the rate at which electric energy is converted to or from another energy form, such as light, heat, or mechanical energy.
    * Electric charge — a connection conserved property of some subatomic particles, which determines their electromagnetic interactions. Electrically charged matter is influenced by, and produces, electromagnetic fields.
    * Electromagnetism — a fundamental interaction