Analog meters use physical components to measure basic variables like voltage. Digital meters, however, can measure more complex factors, like frequency.

Digital meters provide numerical readings that are easy to read and interpret, while analog meters require users to manually read and record the information displayed on the dial or disk.

For analog meters, each dial represents one digit. Always round down and note that the orientation of each individual dial changes. On digital meters, the reading is displayed on the screen.

Analog multimeters use a needle and printed scales to display measurements. Digital multimeters, on the other hand, display measurements through numbers on a screen.

Although digital panel meters are typically better for handling noisy signals, certain kinds of noise are better mitigated with analog panel meters, such as when the voltage is pulsing.