EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) and EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) are closely related concepts in the field of EMC testing of electrical & electronic products for EMC compliance, but the EMC and EMI are not the same thing.

What is EMI?

An electrical and electronic product usually emits some amount of unwanted electromagnetic energy during its operation. The unwanted electromagnetic energy emitted from the product is called EMI (electromagnetic interference), which can affect the performance of or sometimes damage the electronic device(s) operating in the same environment. The sources of EMI can be any electrical & electronic device and sometimes EMI can occur naturally due to environmental events, such as electrical storms and solar radiation.

What is EMC?

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) means that electronic gadgets can work together without causing problems. It's like making sure that the mobile phone won't mess with the computer. To make sure things work smoothly, electronic devices must adhere to specific standards. When a device successfully complies with these standards, it earns the designation of being EMC compatible or certified, signifying its suitability for market sale without causing interference to other devices.