What does a voltmeter specifically measure in a circuit?

A voltmeter is designed specifically to measure the electrical potential difference, also known as voltage, between two points in an electrical circuit. Voltage represents the force that pushes electric charges through the conductor, establishing an electric current. When connected across two points, the voltmeter provides a reading that indicates how much voltage is present between those points.

Voltage measurements are crucial for understanding how much energy is available to drive the current through the circuit. This is vital for troubleshooting and ensuring that devices operate within their specified voltage ranges. Since the voltmeter is calibrated to measure this electrical potential difference, it does not measure current flow, resistance, or power consumption directly; those measurements require different instruments, such as ammeters for current and ohmmeters for resistance.