| Ambient Conditions | The humidity, pressure, temperature, etc surrounding the load cell. |
| Axial Load | A load applied along the primary axis. |
| Calibration | The comparison of load cell outputs against standard test loads. |
| Capacity | The maximum axial load a load cell is designed to measure within its specification. |
| Combined error | The maximum real deviation from the straight line between zero and maximum load. This is expressed as a percentage of the rated output. |
| Creep | The change in output signal which occurs under static load and stable ambient conditions. |
| Deflection | The physical positional difference at the loading point between no load and maximum load conditions. |
| Eccentric Load | Any load applied parallel but not concentric with the primary axis. |
| Excitation | The voltage applied to the load cell. |
| Full Scale | The output at maximum load condition. |
| Hysteresis | The peak difference observed between the signal outputs during a loading and unloading cycle. |
| Input Resistance | The resistance of the load cell measured at the input terminals while the output terminals are open circuit. |
| Insulation Resistance | Normally measured at 50v, the DC resistance between the load cell body and bridge circuit. |
| Load | The weight or force applied to the load cell. |
| Load Cell | A device which produces an electrical signal proportional to the applied force. |
| Nonlinearity | The maximum deviation of the output curve from the zero-maximum load line, measured on increasing load only. |
| Output | The signal range produced by the load cell. Where the output is directly proportional to load it is expressed in mV/V. |
| Output Resistance | The resistance of the load cell measured at the output terminals while the input terminals are open circuit. |
| Overload Rating, Safe | The maximum load in percent of rated capacity which can be applied with permanently affecting the load cell’s characteristics. |
| Overload Rating, Ultimate | The maximum load applicable before structural failure. |
| Primary Axis | The axis along which the load cell is designed to be loaded. |
| Rated Load | The maximum load permitted to be measured to remain within specification. |
| Repeatability | The maximum difference between output readings under identical environmental and load conditions. |
| Sensitivity | The ratio of change of electrical output to mechanical input. |
| Side Load | A load at 90 degrees to the primary axis. |
| Temperature Compensation range | The range of temperatures over which the load cell is compensated to maintain performance characteristics within specified limits. |
