An electric fuse is a safety device which is used to limit the current in an electric circuit .The use of a fuse safegaurds the circuit and the appliances connected in that circuit from being damaged.

A fuse is a short piece of wire made up of a material of high resistivity and low melting point , so that it may easily melt due to overheating when current in excess to the prescribed limit passes through it.

An alloy of lead and tin is generally used as the material of the fuse wire.

The fuse is always connected in the beginning of the circuit of the appliances in the live wire , so that the fuse may melt first , before current reaches the appliance and damage it.