Resistor difference

[steveggz]

Is there a actual difference between a resistor and a current limiting resistor? Or is it the same resistor except being applied in series or parallel?

[ataradov]

This is a really strange question. Current limiting is one of the jobs resistor can do in a circuit. Series or parallel is irrelevant here.

Resistor is resistor regardless of its use.

[Nusa]

Resisting, or limiting, current is all a resistor does. So strictly speaking, a current-limiting resistor is a redundant phrase, but it often gets used when that's the sole role the resistor is serving.

Similarly, when we call something a pull-up or pull-down resistor, its primary role is to provide a stable default state to a floating or unconnected circuit.

Read up on fundamentals:
http://www.resistorguide.com/what-is-a-resistor/

[Ian.M]

The only exception would be using a fusible resistor as a current limiter as fusible resistors are designed to burn open circuit if overloaded, without catching on fire.  Replacing a fusible resistor with an ordinary one is a *BAD* idea, as even though most small metal film resistors will go open-circuit on overload without *much* flaming of their surface coating, the resistance may drop as the surface coating carbonizes.

[TimNJ]

Similar to what others have said...

I think the term "current limiting resistor" is frequently used when talking about LEDs and the series resistor used to limit the current through the LED. Physically nothing different about that resistor compared to any other resistor. Speculating that you are talking about LEDs, the reason you need a "current limiting resistor" is because an LED is basically a current-driven device. It's the current through the LED which affects how bright it is.