A potentiometer is a component used in electrical circuits that acts as a variable resistor. It is commonly employed as a dimmer for LED drivers, allowing for the control of LED brightness by adjusting the resistance. The potentiometer consists of a resistive element, a sliding contact (also known as a wiper), and three terminals. The resistive element is typically a long strip of material with a high resistance value, while the sliding contact can be moved along the strip, altering the amount of resistance in the circuit.