How is conventional current defined?

Conventional current is defined as the flow of positive charge. This definition dates back to early electrical theory when it was assumed that electric current flowed from the positive terminal to the negative terminal of a power source. Although we now understand that, in conductive materials like metals, it is actually electrons—carrying a negative charge—that flow in the opposite direction, the convention was established and remains in use for consistency in electrical engineering and physics.

This choice aligns with the established convention used in circuit theory and electrical calculations, where the direction of current is represented as the movement of positive charge from higher to lower potential. Understanding this helps when analyzing circuits, as all voltage and current calculations are performed with this positive charge flow convention, irrespective of the actual movement of electrons.