Potentiometer symbol

A resistor with an arrow touching it, marking a variable division of voltage.

Also known as: Pot, Resistor with an arrow

Sometimes confused with: Variable resistor symbol

Engineering & technicalStandard profile

Meanings

A resistor with an arrow tapping its body is a potentiometer. The arrow is a wiper contact, and its third terminal is what separates it from a plain variable resistor.

Common modern usageVerified fact
Represents a resistor with a movable contact tapping its length, dividing a voltage between its two ends.
Contexts: Technical drawing, Electrical equipment
Common modern usageVerified fact
Has three terminals where a plain variable resistor has two, which is the functional difference the arrow's third connection records.
Contexts: Technical drawing, Electrical equipment

Visual description

A rectangle or zigzag representing a resistor with an arrow pointing at its middle from one side, the arrow forming a third connection.

Symmetry: none
Orientation: orientation independent

Derived from: Resistor symbol
A resistor with a wiper contact added.

Confidence

IdentityModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the identity is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.
Historical originLow confidence: Low confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the current use is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.
Visual matchModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.

Sources

Potentiometer
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-08-01
Tertiary reference. Used for what a symbol instructs and which standard governs it. Where a standard is named it is reported by this source rather than read, so no meaning is typed `official` on that basis.

Last reviewed 2026-07-31

Part of

Process and instrumentation diagram (P&ID) and circuit symbols

Help improve this page

Meanings

A resistor with an arrow tapping its body is a potentiometer. The arrow is a wiper contact, and its third terminal is what separates it from a plain variable resistor.

Common modern usageVerified fact

Represents a resistor with a movable contact tapping its length, dividing a voltage between its two ends.

Contexts: Technical drawing, Electrical equipment

Common modern usageVerified fact

Has three terminals where a plain variable resistor has two, which is the functional difference the arrow's third connection records.

Contexts: Technical drawing, Electrical equipment

Confidence

IdentityModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the identity is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.
Historical originLow confidence: Low confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the current use is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.
Visual matchModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.

Meanings

Visual description

Related & commonly confused symbols

Meanings

Visual description

Related & commonly confused symbols