Zähler

Zähler is a German noun meaning "counter" or "meter." It refers to a device or component that records the number of times a particular event occurs or the amount of a resource that is consumed.

Common uses include metering devices such as the Stromzähler (electric meter), Gaszähler, Wasserzähler, and Heizungszähler, which are used by utilities to determine charges. In manufacturing or logistics, counters track produced units, processed items, or sequence events.

Zähler can describe both mechanical devices—such as tally counters and odometers—and electronic or digital counters that increment on input pulses. These counters may operate in decimal, binary, or other counting bases and are used for event counting, timing, synchronization, and data collection.

In computing, a counter is a variable or object that increases as events occur, and may be used for loops, statistics, or timing. The term "Zähler" is therefore used in German-language technical literature to refer to both hardware and software counting components.

History and development: mechanical counters emerged in early counting and measuring devices; the 20th century brought electronic counters and digital electronics, while contemporary metering often employs smart meters with remote communication.