When configured to measure current, how is a multimeter connected to a component?

To measure current using a multimeter, it must be connected in series with the circuit component being measured. This configuration allows the multimeter to become part of the circuit, enabling it to measure the total current flowing through the component directly. When the multimeter is placed in series, all the current that passes through the circuit also flows through the meter.

Connecting a multimeter in parallel, which might be a common misconception, would instead measure voltage across the component, potentially damaging the multimeter if it is not rated for such voltage. The terms "in quadrature" and "in phase" are not applicable in the context of current measurement with a multimeter, as they relate more to phase relationships in AC signals and do not describe how electrical measurement devices like multimeters function in a circuit. Thus, connecting the multimeter in series is the proper method for current measurement.