Editing Electromagnetic shielding (section)

{{Short description|Using conductive or magnetic materials to reduce electromagnetic field intensity}}
{{About|shielding materials|the atomic effect|Shielding effect}}
{{more citations needed|date=March 2010}}
[[Image:Electromagnetic shielding inside mobile phone.jpg|thumb|Electromagnetic shielding cages inside a disassembled [[mobile phone]].]]

In [[electrical engineering]], '''electromagnetic shielding''' is the practice of reducing or redirecting the [[electromagnetic field]] (EMF) in a space with barriers made of [[electrical conductor|conductive]] or [[Magnetism|magnetic]] materials. It is typically applied to enclosures, for isolating electrical devices from their surroundings, and to [[Electrical cable|cable]]s to isolate [[Electrical wiring|wire]]s from the environment through which the cable runs ({{crossreference|see [[Shielded cable]]}}). Electromagnetic shielding that blocks [[radio frequency]] (RF) [[electromagnetic radiation]] is also known as '''RF shielding'''.

EMF shielding serves to minimize [[electromagnetic interference]]. The shielding can reduce the [[Coupling (electronics)|coupling]] of radio waves, electromagnetic fields, and [[electrostatic field]]s. A conductive enclosure used to block electrostatic fields is also known as a ''[[Faraday cage]]''. The amount of reduction depends very much upon the material used, its thickness, the size of the shielded volume and the [[frequency]] of the fields of interest and the size, shape and orientation of holes in a shield to an incident electromagnetic field.