Electronic test equipment (sometimes called "testgear" or "bench top") is used to create signals and capture responses from electronic Devices Under Test (DUTs). In this way, the proper operation of the DUT can be proven or faults in the device can be traced and repaired. Use of electronic test equipment is essential to any serious work on electronics systems.

Practical electronics engineering and assembly requires the use of many different kinds of electronic test equipment ranging from the very simple and inexpensive (such as a test light consisting of just a light bulb and a test lead) to extremely complex and sophisticated such as Automatic Test Equipment. ATE often includes many of these instruments in real and simulated forms.

Generally, more advanced test gear is necessary when developing circuits and systems than is needed when doing production testing or when troubleshooting existing production units in the field

A Tektronix model 475A portable analogue oscilloscope

Agilent commercial digital voltmeter checking a prototype

The following items are used for basic measurement of voltages, currents, and components in the circuit under test.

• Voltmeter (Measures voltage)
• Ohmmeter (Measures resistance)
• Ammeter, e.g. Galvanometer or Milliameter (Measures current)
• Multimeter e.g., VOM (Volt-Ohm-Milliameter) or DMM (Digital Multimeter) (Measures all of the above)

The following are used for stimulus of the circuit under test:

• Power supplies
• Signal generator
• Digital pattern generator
• Pulse generator

Howard piA digital multimeter

The following analyze the response of the circuit under test:

• Oscilloscope (Measures all of the above as they change over time)
• Frequency counter (Measures frequency)

And connecting it all together:

• Test probes