currentthat

Currentthat is a neologism used in some electrical engineering and electronics communities to refer to the instantaneous current in a particular branch or path of a circuit, especially when distinguishing it from average, peak, or routed currents. The term is informal and not part of formal standards or textbooks. In practice, currentthat is typically defined as the temporal current i(t) flowing through a specific element or node of interest, and is used in circuit analysis and simulation to track transient behavior and timing.

Etymology and usage: The word blends the common word current with a demonstrative suffix that suggests reference to a specified current within a circuit. It emerged in online forums and hobbyist documentation in the 2010s and has appeared sporadically in open-source simulation notes. Because it is not standardized, different authors may use it with varying precision, or substitute more conventional terms such as instantaneous current, branch current, or i through a component.

Applications: In SPICE simulations or schematic labeling, currentthat can be used as a label for a branch current variable. It is most relevant when analyzing transient responses, charging curves in RC networks, or switching events in power electronics. Limitations: lack of standard definition, potential confusion with natural language usage of the word that, and the risk of misinterpretation in formal reporting.

See also: current, instantaneous current, branch current, transient analysis, SPICE.