A load cell is a type of pressure transducer that converts sensed mechanical force into electrical signals. These signals are then interpreted to measure pressure in a variety of applications (e.g. mechanical testing, ongoing system monitoring, etc.) and in a variety of devices such as industrial scales. Load cells are able to gauge and monitor different types of forces, including compression, tension, and shear.
Load cells are often equated with pressure sensors, force sensors, and/or pressure transducers. While there is a vast amount of overlap between these categories, technically speaking they do not have identical member sets.