GFCI stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter. The GFCI receptacle has been designed for one purpose and one purpose only, and that is to protect you and your family from electrical shock.

Electrical current on standard devices travels in two wires. The hot wire and the neutral wire. The GFCI monitors these currents. When there is a difference of current in the hot and neutral wires, the GFCI will interrupt the household circuits causing the GFCI to automatically cut off.