涡电流（Eddy Current，又称为傅科电流）现象，在1851年被法国物理学家莱昂·傅科所发现。是由于一个移动的磁场与金属导体相交，或是由移动的金属导体与磁场垂直交会所产生。简而言之，就是电磁感应效应所造成。这个动作产生了一个在导体内循环的电流。

磁场变化越快，感应电动势就越大，涡流就越强；涡流能使导体发热。在磁场发生变化的装置中，往往把导体分成一组相互绝缘的薄片或一束细条，以降低涡流强度，从而减少能量的损耗；但在需要产生高温时，又可以利用涡流取得热量，如高频电炉原理。

涡电流可以应用在，无损检测与监看多种金属制品的结构，如飞机机身与零件的表面及近表面的检测等。

Eddy currents (also called Foucault currents) are loops of electrical current induced within conductors by a changing magnetic field in the conductor, due to Faraday's law of induction. Eddy currents flow in closed loops within conductors, in planes perpendicular to the magnetic field. They can be induced within nearby stationary conductors by a time-varying magnetic field created by an AC electromagnet or transformer, for example, or by relative motion between a magnet and a nearby conductor. The magnitude of the current in a given loop is proportional to the strength of the magnetic field, the area of the loop, and the rate of change of flux, and inversely proportional to the resistivity of the material.