What characterizes a short-circuit?

A short-circuit is defined as a fault where current flows along an unintended path, usually resulting from insulation failure or a direct contact between conductors that should not be connected. In these situations, the electrical current bypasses the normal route through the load, leading to a significant increase in current flow. This excessive current can cause damage to electrical equipment, pose safety hazards, and lead to the tripping of protective devices such as circuit breakers or fuses designed to interrupt the fault condition. This characteristic of unintended current flow sets short-circuits apart from other fault conditions, such as overloads or normal operational currents, which behave quite differently.