In circuits where tight tolerance, low temperature coefficient and low noise properties are important, often metal film resistors are used. Examples of applications are active filters or bridge circuits.

Typical use for carbon film resistors is in high voltage and temperature applications. Operating temperatures are up to 15kV with a nominal temperature of 350°C. Examples are high voltage power supplies, radar, x-rays and laser.

The conductive wire can be made of varying alloys and thickness to control the resistance value. Wirewound resistors are typically used in high power and industrial applications such as circuit breakers and fuses.

Ceramic resistors are manufactured from a sintered body of ceramic material, with conductive particles distributed throughout the matrix, to produce a resistor that is 100% active and non-inductive. Ceramic resistors are chemically inert.

A resistor network is a combination of several resistors that are configured into a pattern. Although most resistor networks use resistors that are connected in series, some resistor networks use resistors in parallel or series-parallel configurations.

Resistors in Surface Mount Configuration.