Understanding the Difference Between Oscilloscopes and Oscillographs

An oscilloscope is a piece of test equipment used to measure and display the voltage of an electrical signal over time. It can be used to observe the shape, amplitude, frequency, and other characteristics of the signal.

An oscillograph, on the other hand, is an older term that was historically used to describe a device that combined the functions of an oscilloscope and a graph paper. The oscillograph would allow users to trace the waveform of an electrical signal onto a piece of paper, creating a graph of the signal's shape and amplitude over time.

Today, most modern oscilloscopes have replaced the need for an oscillograph, as they can display the waveform directly on a digital screen and offer many more advanced features and capabilities than the older devices. However, the term "oscillograph" is still sometimes used in nostalgic or historical contexts to refer to these older devices.