system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why do wall chargers for electronics almost always have bulky, awkward bases that make it difficult to plug them in next to other plugs and chargers?

Can't they just use the standard plug shape that outlets were actually designed for?
gpt
The electricity coming out of your wall is AC, or alternating current. Most electronic devices use DC, or direct current. The electricity from your wall is also (probably) around 120 volts which is too much for many electronics.

The big bulky device often includes a rectifier (converts AC to DC), a capacitor (stores energy to help reduce noise), and a transformer or resistors (reduces the voltage to an appropriate level for your device). Those things take up room. Some devices separate this into a separate unit halfway or so down the cable like you will find on many laptop chargers, but this can also increase the cost.