The ampere (/ ˈ æ m p ɛər / ⓘ AM-pair, US: / ˈ æ m p ɪər / ⓘ AM-peer; [1] [2] [3] symbol: A), [4] often shortened to amp, [5] is the unit of electric current in the International System of Units (SI). One ampere is equal to 1 coulomb (C) moving past a point per second.