What's the difference between collector current and base current?

Answer by  Elvis16 (18)

Base current is a much smaller amount, on the order of 1/1000th the collector current. Essentially, the base current controls the flow of collector current.

Answer by  frick (6)

The collector current flows through the part of the transistor that is known as the collector. The base current flows through the part of the transistor that is known as the base. Typically the base current is very small in magnitude compare to the collector current. Also the base current is used to control the collector current.