What is the movement of charge carried by electrons in metal conductors and holes in semiconductors called?

The movement of charge carried by electrons in metal conductors and holes in semiconductors is referred to as electric current. This term specifically describes the flow of electric charge through a material, which can occur due to the motion of electrons in conductive materials like metals, as well as the movement of holes—essentially the absence of electrons—within semiconductors.

In metals, electric current is primarily due to the drift of free electrons in response to an electric field. In semiconductors, electric current can be carried by both electrons and holes, with holes representing positive charge carriers. The concept of electric current is foundational in understanding circuit behavior, as it quantifies the amount of charge passing through a given point in the circuit per unit time, typically measured in amperes.

Thus, the definition of electric current encapsulates both types of charge carriers found in different materials and illustrates the fundamental behavior of electricity in various conductive phenomena.