The term "statcoulomb" refers to an electrostatic unit used to measure electric charge. Synonyms for this term include electrostatic unit (ESU), franklin (Fr), and statampere-second (statA·s). The use of ESU and Fr for measuring electric charge is common in the study of electromagnetism, especially when dealing with microscopic particles like electrons. These units were once widely used before the adoption of the International System of Units (SI) and were favored by scientists who sought to simplify the measurement of electrical quantities. Though these units have fallen out of use in many fields, they are still referenced in some scientific papers and textbooks.