What is the difference btwn positive and negative electrodes

[Kuzon]

I'm so confused, is the voltage reading of the meter gathered by:
positive electrode charge - negative electrode charge = potential difference

I don't get why there is a positive and negative electrode and what they do

 

[fresh_42]

I'm so confused, is the voltage reading of the meter gathered by:
positive electrode charge - negative electrode charge = potential difference

I don't get why there is a positive and negative electrode and what they do

The voltage is the difference of the electromagnetic potential between the electrodes. The difference of available charges if you like or more precisely energy per charge. Whether this is positive or negative depends on how you wired them. The positive electrode (anode) attracts electrons and the negative electrode (cathode) releases them.

You might have a read here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltage
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrode