负载是指连接在电路中的电源两端的电路组件。电路中不应没有负载而直接把电源两极相连，此连接称为短路。常用的负载有电阻、引擎和灯泡等可消耗功率的组件。不消耗功率的组件，如电容，也可接上去，但此情况为断路。

在应用电力系统中，发电厂的地位相当于电源，而工厂，家庭等消耗电能，是负载。

An electrical load is an electrical component or portion of a circuit that consumes electric power. This is opposed to a power source, such as a battery or generator, which produces power. In electric power circuits examples of loads are appliances and lights. The term may also refer to the power consumed by a circuit.