What is the main purpose of a multimeter?

The main purpose of a multimeter is to measure voltage, current, and resistance, making it an essential tool for anyone working in electronics or electrical fields. This versatility allows a multimeter to be used for a variety of diagnostic tasks, such as checking battery voltage, examining circuit continuity, and troubleshooting electrical components.

A multimeter typically combines the functions of several measuring instruments into one device, which is why it can take readings of multiple electrical parameters. By utilizing different settings on the multimeter, users can switch between measuring direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC) voltage, measuring current in series with circuit components, and measuring resistance across components.

The other options focus on either specific measurements or functions that a multimeter does not primarily fulfill. For instance, measuring power factor requires additional tools or context that a standard multimeter does not directly provide. Amplifying electrical signals is a function associated with operational amplifiers or other amplification devices, not multimeters. Likewise, while a multimeter might help identify electrical faults through its measurements, that is not its primary function; it is fundamentally designed for measurement rather than fault detection.