Article 100 — The Definitions the Exam Actually Tests
Every Texas exam outline opens with "Code Definitions." These questions are cheap points *if* you go to Article 100 and read the exact wording instead of trusting job-site slang. The 2026 NEC keeps all definitions in Article 100, alphabetically (definitions that used to sit inside individual articles were moved there in 2023 and stay there).
NFPA 70 National Electrical Code, 2026 edition · Reviewed 2026-09-19
Every Texas exam outline opens with "Code Definitions." These questions are cheap points if you go to Article 100 and read the exact wording instead of trusting job-site slang. The 2026 NEC keeps all definitions in Article 100, alphabetically (definitions that used to sit inside individual articles were moved there in 2023 and stay there).
1. Pairs that get confused on purpose
| Term | What the code means | The trap |
|---|---|---|
| Accessible (equipment) | Can be reached for inspection or work — not permanently blocked by the building finish | Being behind a locked door still counts as accessible |
| Readily accessible | Can be reached quickly for operation, renewal or inspection without needing to use tools other than keys, climb over or under, remove obstacles, or use portable ladders (2026 wording; the Informational Note says keys are an accepted controlled-access alternative) | A panel above a suspended ceiling is accessible but not readily accessible; a locked electrical room can still be readily accessible |
| Grounded (grounding) | Connected to ground (earth) or to a conductive body that extends the ground connection | — |
| Bonded (bonding) | Connected to establish electrical continuity and conductivity | Bonding joins metal parts together; grounding connects them to earth. They are different acts |
| Grounded conductor | A circuit conductor that is intentionally grounded — usually the neutral | Not the same as the equipment grounding conductor |
| Equipment grounding conductor (EGC) | The conductive path that connects normally non-current-carrying metal parts together and to the system grounded conductor / grounding electrode conductor | Carries current only during a fault |
| Feeder | Conductors between the service equipment (or other power source) and the final branch-circuit overcurrent device | — |
| Branch circuit | Conductors between the final overcurrent device protecting the circuit and the outlets | The word final decides feeder vs branch circuit |
| Outlet | A point on the wiring system where current is taken to supply utilization equipment | A light |
This is where the public part ends.
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