Researching electric kettles can be particularly difficult if you are unfamiliar with the definitions and terminology used. Here I list and define several of the most common phrases associated with electric kettles.
Limescale Filter - This one is self explanatory. Unfortunately kettles get limescale. Fortunately the problem is reduced somewhat by the existence of limescale filters. They are generally located near the spout of the kettle. They certainly do not filter all limescale, but the amount of limescale which gets through is much lower.
360 Degree Base - Electric kettles sit on a base which is plugged into an outlet. A 360 degree base is one where the kettle can be placed at any position on the base and be rotated around it. This is done purely for convenience as it means you do not have to fiddle around finding the right position for the kettle every time you want to put it back on the base.
Water Level Indicators - Water level indicators show which water level height corresponds to the volume of water inside of the kettle. External indicators are on the outside of the kettle and internal ones are on the inside.
Automatic Shut-Off - Some kettles have an automatic shut-off feature which stops the kettle from boiling for longer than is necessary. It will shut itself off once the water reaches a certain temperature.
Boil Dry Protection - Kettles which boil dry not only waste energy, but can be dangerous. If a kettle is equipped with boil dry protection then it will shut itself off once the water has either completely evaporated or once the water level drops below a safe level.
Heating Element - The heating element is a component in electric kettles which converts electrical energy into heat energy. You can identify the heating element by looking for a component with a looped metal rod.
Concealed Heating Element - If you cannot find the heating element in your kettle then you probably have a concealed heating element. Such a heating element is usually concealed in the base. This has the advantage of it not collecting limescale. It is also visually more appealing.