Page "Multimeter" Paragraph 70

* Auto-ranging, which selects the correct range for the quantity under test so that the most significant digits are shown.

For example, a four-digit multimeter would automatically select an appropriate range to display 1. 234 instead of 0. 012, or overloading.

Auto-ranging meters usually include a facility to hold the meter to a particular range, because a measurement that causes frequent range changes can be distracting to the user.

Other factors being equal, an auto-ranging meter will have more circuitry than an equivalent non-auto-ranging meter, and so will be more costly, but will be more convenient to use.