The ampere, often shortened to "amp," is the unit of electric current in the International System of Units (SI). It measures the flow of electric charge through a conductor, such as a wire. One ampere is defined as the flow of one coulomb of charge per second. In practical terms, the ampere helps us understand how much electricity is being used in devices like light bulbs and appliances. For example, a typical household light bulb may use about 0.5 to 1 amp, while larger appliances like refrigerators can use several amps. Understanding amps is essential for safe electrical system design and usage.