Kirchhoff's laws are fundamental principles used in circuit analysis. They consist of two main laws:
1. **Kirchhoff's Current Law (KCL)**: This law states that the total current entering a junction in an electrical circuit equals the total current leaving the junction. In other words, the sum of currents at any node is zero:
\[
\sum I_{\text{in}} = \sum I_{\text{out}}
\]
2. **Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL)**: This law states that the sum of the electrical potential differences (voltages) around any closed loop in a circuit must equal zero. This means that the total voltage rises must equal the total voltage drops:
\[
\sum V = 0
\]
These laws are essential for analyzing complex electrical circuits and ensuring that conservation principles are upheld.