Oscilloscope single-ended active probes

Active probe differs from the passive probes because the probe tip contains a small active amplifier built into the probe body near the probe tip so that the probe input capacitance can be kept very small, usually less than 2pF. This low capacitance results in high input impedance on high frequencies. It has the best overall combination of resistive and capacitive loading. With such low loading, active probes can be used on high-impedance circuits that would be seriously loaded by passive probes. Active probe is the least intrusive of all the probes.