What Is the End of a Battery Called? Terminals, Poles, and Contacts Explained
The end of a battery is called a terminal. It is the conductive point where the battery connects to a device or charger. Most common batteries have a positive terminal, marked +, and a negative terminal, marked −.
The terminal is the battery’s physical connection point. “Positive” and “negative” describe its electrical polarity. In everyday speech, people sometimes call these the battery’s poles, but terminal is the clearest word when you mean the part that makes contact with a device.
What battery terminals look like
The shape and position of the terminals depend on the battery type. On many cylindrical batteries, such as AA and AAA cells, the positive terminal has a raised nub and the negative end is flat. Check the markings on the battery and device, since the shape can vary by design.
A standard 9V battery has both terminals on the same end. They are two differently sized snap connectors: the smaller one is positive, and the larger one is negative. Button and coin cells also have markings that indicate polarity; check the cell’s label or the device instructions instead of relying on its shape alone.
The Energizer battery glossary describes the positive and negative terminals in relation to a battery’s electrical connections. When discussing current in a circuit, it helps to distinguish conventional current from electron movement: conventional current is described as flowing through the external circuit from positive to negative during discharge, while electrons move in the opposite direction.
Terminal, pole, and contact
These words are related, but they refer to different things:
| Term | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal | A conductive connection point on the battery | The raised positive end of many AA batteries |
| Pole | A battery’s positive or negative polarity | The positive pole |
| Contact | The conductive part of a device that touches the battery | A spring or metal tab in a battery compartment |
In casual use, “positive pole” and “positive terminal” may mean the same thing. In a technical description, terminal usually refers to the connection point, while positive or negative identifies its polarity. A battery pack can have several terminals for different connections or functions, so the number of terminals does not always indicate the number of poles.
A device’s contact is separate from the battery terminal. The battery terminal touches the device contact to complete the electrical connection. The U.S. Department of Energy’s battery explainer discusses how a battery connects to an external circuit through its terminals. Duracell’s Battery Basics also describes the connection between a battery and a device.
One example: installing AA batteries
Suppose you are putting two AA batteries into a remote control. Each battery has a positive and a negative terminal, and the compartment shows which direction each one should face. Match the + and − markings in the compartment to the markings on the batteries. The remote’s metal springs and tabs are contacts; they press against the battery terminals to make the connection.
Do not assume every device places its springs at the negative end. Battery compartments vary, so follow the markings on the device. If the batteries are aligned correctly but the remote does not work, check that the batteries are seated properly and that the contacts are clean and undamaged. If a battery or contact appears corroded, follow the device maker’s cleaning and safety instructions.
Key Takeaways
- The end or connection point of a battery is called a terminal.
- The + and − signs show the terminal’s polarity.
- A pole refers to positive or negative polarity; a contact is the conductive part of the device that touches the battery.
- Terminal shapes vary by battery type. Use the markings on the battery and device to identify polarity.
- For AA batteries, match each battery’s + and − markings to the compartment instead of assuming a particular contact position.
