What is the primary function of an op-amp in electronic circuits?

An operational amplifier, commonly known as an op-amp, is primarily designed to amplify voltage signals in electronic circuits. This amplification occurs due to the op-amp's high gain capability, allowing it to increase the amplitude of weak input signals. The op-amp typically has two input terminals (inverting and non-inverting) and one output terminal. When a voltage difference is applied between the two inputs, the op-amp outputs a voltage that is a scaled version of that difference, primarily governed by external feedback components connected to it.

This characteristic makes op-amps incredibly versatile, enabling them to be used in various applications such as signal conditioning, filtering, and mathematical operations like addition, subtraction, integration, and differentiation. Their ability to amplify small signals makes them foundational components in analog electronics.

In contrast, while providing a fixed voltage, acting as a current limiter, or converting AC to DC involves different circuit components or configurations, these functions do not capture the essence of an op-amp’s primary role, which is to serve as a voltage amplifier.