Electrical Ground Symbol
Schematic symbol representing an electrical connection to earth ground.
International · c. 1900 – present
Resistor Symbol
Schematic symbol representing an electrical resistor in circuit diagrams.
Description
The resistor is represented by two different symbols depending on the standard: the IEC/European standard uses a rectangle (IEC 60617), while the ANSI/American standard uses a zigzag line (ANSI/IEEE 315). The IEC rectangular symbol is used in most countries outside North America. A resistor is a passive two-terminal electrical component that implements electrical resistance as a circuit element. Resistors are used to reduce current flow, adjust signal levels, divide voltages, and terminate transmission lines.
Origin & Cultural Context
Standardized by IEC 60617 (rectangular symbol) and ANSI/IEEE 315 (zigzag symbol). The zigzag form dates to early 20th-century American practice.