Grounding and earthing are electrical safety methods that provide a low-resistance path for unwanted electrical current to flow safely into the earth. In everyday electrical discussions, the terms are often used interchangeably. The basic idea is to prevent dangerous voltage from remaining on exposed metal parts of equipment such as washing machines, refrigerators, electrical panels, and motors.

Earthing usually refers specifically to connecting exposed conductive parts of electrical equipment to the earth through an earthing conductor and an earth electrode, such as a copper rod or copper plate buried in soil. If insulation inside a washing machine fails and the live conductor touches its metal body, fault current can flow through the earthing path instead of through a person touching the machine. This fault current should operate the appropriate protective device, such as a circuit breaker or residual-current device (RCD/RCCB).

Grounding is a broader term used in electrical engineering for establishing a reference point or intentional connection to earth. It can include grounding the electrical system, such as the neutral point of a transformer, as well as equipment grounding for safety. A good grounding/earthing system should use correctly sized conductors, suitable connections, and an appropriate earth electrode, and should comply with the applicable electrical code. Importantly, earthing is not intended to carry normal operating current; it is primarily a safety path for fault conditions.