Power conditioners are electrical components that are designed to improve the quality of power supplied to computer components by supplying an adequate amount of voltage that is required by the component to function properly. Although there is no single technical definition of a power conditioner, it can often be associated with a voltage regulator, which can improve the quality of power through transient impulse protection, power factor correction or noise suppression. A power conditioner also has the capability to clean and regulate AC power by delivering dynamic power adjustments and removing surges, spikes, sags, noise, and frequency irregularities, which can cause damage or adverse effect on the performance of any equipment load.

Power conditioning is recognized by the NEMA, IEEE and other standards. Power conditioners can be used by both individual users as well as large corporations. Power conditioners are of two types - alternating current (AC) power conditioners and power line conditioners. Alternating current power conditioners deliver clean AC power to their dedicated electrical gear. They can have at least ten or more outlets or repositories for surge protection and noise filtering, and can be found in homes and offices. On the other hand, power line conditioners absorb and modify power and should be designed for the needs of specific components.

Power conditioning is important because it helps in protecting sensitive equipment by smoothing out any potential voltage fluctuations such as voltage spikes, transients, etc. Furthermore, a conditioner is essential because it reduces the electrical hum of all your equipment.