What is the standard SI unit for electric current?

The story behind the answer

Ampere (A) is the SI base unit for electric current—the rate at which electric charge flows. Since 2019, it’s defined by fixing the value of the elementary charge: 1 ampere equals a flow of exactly 1 coulomb of charge per second. Historically, it was tied to the magnetic force between parallel wires and is named after André-Marie Ampère, a pioneer of electrodynamics.

Don’t mix up the units: Volt (V) measures electric potential (the “push”), Ohm (Ω) measures resistance (the “hindrance”), and Watt (W) measures power (energy per time). Memory tip: “Amps = Amount of charge per second,” and the formula V = I·R puts I (current in amperes) at the center of circuit relationships.