What type of current does a battery provide?

A battery provides Direct Current (DC). This is because a battery produces a steady flow of electricity in one direction, which characterizes DC. In typical applications, batteries are used to power devices that require a consistent voltage and current, such as portable electronics, electric vehicles, and various low-power applications.

The reason why alternating current (AC) is not correct is that AC continuously reverses direction and is typically generated by power plants and distributed through power lines for homes and businesses. AC is not used in batteries, as they are designed to store and release energy in a unidirectional flow.

The option stating both AC and DC is also incorrect because a single battery generates only one type of current. While some systems might convert DC to AC for specific applications, the inherent nature of battery output is purely DC.

Overall, the characteristics of how batteries store and transmit electrical energy align exclusively with DC, solidifying the validity of the correct answer.