Potentiometer

A potentiometer is a passive electronic component. Potentiometers work by varying the position of a sliding contact across a uniform resistance. In a potentiometer, the entire input voltage is applied across the whole length of the resistor, and the output voltage is the voltage drop between the fixed and sliding contact.

There are two main types of potentiometers:

●Rotary potentiometer
●Linear potentiometer

Although the basic constructional features of these potentiometers vary, the working principle of both of these types of potentiometers is the same.
Note that these are types of DC potentiometers – the types of AC potentiometers are slightly different.