Air temperatures
Possibility of using a thermometer to measure the air temperature. Usually, such a measurement is carried out by a separate sensor, due to which this function is found not only in contact, but also in IR thermometers (see "Type").
Liquid temperatures
The ability to measure
the temperature of liquids using a thermometer. The method of such measurement can be both contact and non-contact. One of the most popular uses for this feature is when preparing baby food.
Measurement range
The range of temperatures that a thermometer can measure.
For measuring body temperature, a range of 35 – 43 °C is considered ample, covering values encountered in individuals with high fever or hypothermia. Although modern medical thermometers may have broader ranges, especially those designed for water and air temperature measurement (e.g., -20 – 100 °C), when used for body temperature, they typically operate within a narrower range. The overall and "solid" measurement ranges are often specified separately in these thermometers.
Measurement accuracy
The extent to which a device deviates from the actual temperature during measurements determines its accuracy. Even the least accurate electronic medical thermometers today have a maximum deviation of 0.3 °C, sufficient for everyday and basic medical use. Common models offer even higher accuracy, with deviations as low as
0.1 °C or
0.2 °C, making the pursuit of maximum accuracy necessary only in specific scenarios.