cathode

This term is strictly technical and belongs to the domain of electrochemistry and physics. It describes a specific point of electrical flow, specifically where reduction occurs during a chemical reaction. In a battery being discharged, the cathode is the positive terminal, but in a battery being charged, the roles flip, which often confuses students. While a general electrode is just a conductor, a cathode is defined by its function within a circuit. It is the destination for electrons in a galvanic cell and the source of electrons in a vacuum tube, making it the critical gateway for current flow in electronic hardware.