Multimeter
electronic measuring instrument that combines several measurement functions in one unit
A multimeter (also known as a multi-tester, volt-ohm-milliammeter, volt-ohmmeter or VOM, avometer or ampere-volt-ohmmeter) is a measuring instrument that can measure multiple electrical properties. A typical multimeter can measure voltage, resistance, and current, in which case can be used as a voltmeter, ohmmeter, and ammeter. Some feature the measurement of additional properties such as temperature and capacitance.
Analog multimeters use a microammeter with a moving pointer to display readings. Digital multimeters (DMMs) have numeric displays and are more precise than analog multimeters as a result. Meters will typically include probes that temporarily connect the instrument to the device or circuit under test, and offer some intrinsic safety features to protect the operator if the instrument is connected to high voltages that exceed its measurement capabilities.
Multimeters vary in size, features, and price. They can be portable handheld devices or highly-precise bench instruments.
Multimeters are used in diagnostic operations to verify the correct operation of a circuit or to test passive components for values in tolerance with their specifications.
History
The first attested usage of the word "multimeter" listed by the Oxford English Dictionary is from 1907.
This brief starts where responsible research should: with the source description of “Multimeter” as electronic measuring instrument that combines several measurement functions in one unit. Everything that follows is an evidence route, not borrowed authority.
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The citation trail is more important than the brevity of the summary: it shows where individual claims can be examined in context. The source revision retrieved here is dated Sep 11, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q189996. The Library of Congress control number is sh85144328. None of the 1 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1907.
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This entry incorporates text from “Multimeter” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.