Impedance is the total opposition to the flow of alternating current (AC) in an electrical circuit. It is measured in ohms () and is a complex quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and phase. Impedance is analogous to resistance in a direct current (DC) circuit.
The impedance of a circuit can be calculated using Ohm’s law, which states that the impedance (Z) of a circuit is equal to the voltage (V) applied to the circuit divided by the current (I) flowing through the circuit: