The varistor is a noun in the mainland of China which means that the resistance value varies with the voltage within a certain current and voltage range, or the resistance value of the resistance value to the voltage. The English name is "Voltage Dependent Resistor", which is abbreviated as "VDR" or "Varistor".

The resistance material of varistor is semiconductor, so it is a variety of semiconductor resistor. Now, a large number of Zinc Oxide varistors (ZnO) are mainly composed of two valence elements (Zn) and six valence element oxygen (O). Therefore, from the material point of view, Zinc Oxide varistor is a type of "II - VI oxide semiconductor". In Taiwan, China, varistors are called "surge absorber", sometimes called "electric shock (surge) suppressor (absorber)".