A hot plate is a portable, self-contained tabletop small appliance cooktop that features one or more electric heating elements or gas burners. It is a compact, versatile, and convenient kitchen appliance used to cook or heat food. Hot plates can be used as a stand-alone appliance, but are often used as a substitute for one of the burners from an oven range or a kitchen stove. They are often used for food preparation, generally in locations where a full kitchen stove would not be convenient or practical. Hot plates can have a flat surface or round surface, and they come in a variety of sizes, designs, and materials. Hot plates can be used for traveling or in areas without electricity.

Hot plates are also used in laboratories as a heat source. Industrial hot plates which incorporate a porous heated plate are referred to as heated chucks. These plates are used to heat thin sheets evenly by drawing the sheets firmly on the plate with a vacuum. These plates are widely used in the process of manufacturing semiconductors. Hot plates using special material and protective coatings are used in mining and related industries to heat samples of toxic chemicals. Such hot plates are usually referred to as corrosion-resistant hot plates.

Hot plates are widely used in the electronics industry as a method of soldering and desoldering components onto circuit boards. Hot plates with two heating surfaces are used to fuse plastic pipes. They can replace conventional cooktops in the home, and are useful when there is not a readily available gas line to connect to. Hot plates are also advantageous for people who want to opt out of utilizing gas equipment in the kitchen. Additionally, they work wonderfully for tableside preparations such as hot pot and fondue.

It is important to note that hot plates are a fire danger, and have resulted in many fires and even fatalities worldwide. These fires can be caused by overheating the plate by accidentally leaving it on, or occasionally by having the cooking item catch fire. Therefore, it is recommended to never leave a hot plate unattended, and to keep a fire extinguisher with you in case of disaster. Experts recommend that children not be allowed to operate hot plates without adult supervision.