cooktop

thumb|An electric plate cooktop A cooktop (American and Canadian English), hob (British English), or stovetop (general) is a device commonly used for cooking that is typically found in kitchens and used to apply heat to the base of pans or pots. Cooktops are often found integrated with an oven into a kitchen stove but may also be standalone devices. Cooktops are most often powered by gas or electricity, although oil or other fuels are sometimes used.

A cooktop may also be called a stove or range, though in more formal usage these refer collectively to the stovetop and the furnace or appliance beneath.