Is photovoltaic same as solar panels?

Photovoltaics and solar panels are related, but not exactly the same.

Solar panels are a key part of a photovoltaic system. Photovoltaics refers to the entire process and technology of converting sunlight into electricity using the photovoltaic effect. It includes the materials science of semiconductors (like silicon) used in solar cells, the design of circuits to manage and transfer the generated electricity, and the overall system integration.

Solar panels, on the other hand, are the physical arrays of solar cells that capture sunlight. They are the most visible component of a photovoltaic installation and are responsible for the initial conversion of light energy into electrical energy.