ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Single coil

Imagine a toy train track with one loop that goes all around. The train moves in a circle around the track because the loop of the track is continuous.

A single coil is kinda like that toy train track loop. It is a piece of metal wire that is formed into a loop, but instead of a train moving around it, it allows electricity to flow through it in a circular pattern.

In electronic devices like guitars, a single coil is used to help create sound. When a string is plucked, it vibrates and creates a small electrical signal. The single coil picks up this signal and sends it through wires to an amplifier, which makes the sound louder.

Single coils have a very distinct sound that many people enjoy for certain types of music, like blues or rock. They are often used in conjunction with other types of pickups, like humbuckers, to create different sounds and tones.