The electric chair is a device used for carrying out capital punishment through electrocution. It was first introduced in the late 19th century as a more humane alternative to hanging. The condemned person is strapped into the chair, and high-voltage electricity is passed through their body, leading to death. This method of execution has been controversial due to ethical concerns and the potential for suffering. While it was widely used in the United States, many states have since moved away from the electric chair in favor of lethal injection, which is now the most common method of execution in the country.