What does the fifth color band on a 5% resistor indicate?

The fifth color band on a resistor typically indicates the tolerance of the resistor, which signifies how much the actual resistance can vary from its stated value. For example, a resistor with a tolerance of 5% means that the actual resistance can deviate by 5% above or below the specified resistance value. Tolerance is a key specification in resistors, as it affects performance and precision in electronic circuits.

Other options, such as resistance value, temperature coefficient, and voltage rating, refer to different aspects of a resistor's characteristics. The first color bands on resistors denote the resistance value itself, while the temperature coefficient describes how the resistance changes with temperature, and the voltage rating indicates the maximum voltage the resistor can handle without failure. However, none of these attributes is represented by the fifth color band, confirming that it is indeed dedicated to indicating the tolerance level of the resistor.