What is the term for materials that prevent the flow of electricity?

The term for materials that prevent the flow of electricity is insulators. Insulators are substances that do not easily permit the flow of electric charges, which makes them essential for protecting us from electric currents and for ensuring that electrical circuits function properly without short-circuiting. Common examples of insulators include rubber, glass, and certain plastics, which are widely used in electrical cables and devices to encase conductive materials and enhance safety.

In contrast, conductors allow the flow of electricity with little resistance, making materials like copper and aluminum suitable for wiring. Semiconductors have properties between those of insulators and conductors, allowing them to conduct electricity under certain conditions, which is crucial for modern electronics such as computers and diodes. Transistors, on the other hand, are semiconductor devices that can amplify or switch electronic signals, but they do not directly describe a class of materials that prevent electricity flow.