Wirewound resistors are passive electronic components that are widely used to control electric current flow in electrical and electronic circuits. The resistor is designed with a certain resistance value that determines the amount of current it can limit. The resistive wire is usually made from a high resistance alloy such as Nichrome, or Constantan. It is wound around a core of ceramic or fiberglass. To achieve the desired level of resistance, both the wire's length and material are carefully selected.