Direct current

In conductive materials such as electric wires, this refers to electric current flowing only in one direction and voltage being applied in only one direction. Usually, the voltage magnitude remains constant, but there are cases where it varies, such as in full-wave rectified waveforms, half-wave rectified waveforms, and pulsating waveforms. Compared to alternating current, direct current does not generate reactive power or skin effect, allowing more efficient use of electric wires. However, it has disadvantages such as difficulty in changing the magnitude of voltage and current. While alternating current is mainly used in power transmission and distribution circuits that handle large amounts of power, direct current is primarily used in electronic circuits that handle small amounts of power.