Some flow meter technologies display the flow rate locally, where the element that does the measuring and the element that displays the flow rate are both together. One example would be variable area flow meters, also known as rotameters, that are mechanical in nature and the scale is physically printed on the device.
Some flow meter technologies and models can offer the option of a remote display where the measurement portion of the device is inserted or inline to the process piping, but the digital flow rate display is in a housing that is connected via a cable and placed away from the process.
For example, our MIM Magnetic Flow Meter is available with either an integral display that is housed within the flow body with the measuring device, or with a digital display separated from the magnetic measurement element with a connection cable.