A watt is a unit that measures how fast something uses or produces energy. It's named after James Watt, the Scottish inventor who improved the steam engine in the 1700s.

Think of watts like the speed of energy flow. A 60-watt light bulb uses 60 joules of electrical energy every second it's on. A 100-watt bulb burns brighter because it uses more energy per second. Your microwave might use 1,000 watts (also called a kilowatt), which is why it heats food so quickly: it's using energy at a much faster rate than a light bulb.

Watts help us compare how much power different devices need. A smartphone charger uses about 5 watts, a laptop about 60 watts, and a hair dryer might use 1,500 watts. The higher the wattage, the more electrical energy the device consumes each second, and usually the faster or stronger it works.

When you see a light bulb labeled “60W” or a speaker labeled “100W,” that number tells you how much power it uses or produces. Understanding watts helps you know which devices use lots of electricity and which ones sip it slowly.