Electrochemical Terms and Concepts 

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A solution which contains ions is called an electrolyte solution (sometimes simply an electrolyte). Electrolyte solutions conduct electricity because the charged ions can move through them. Electrolyte solutions are ionic conductors as distinguished from the electronic conductors, such as metallic wires, in which charge is carried by movement of electrons. An electrolyte solution may be used for this purpose alone. An example of this is the salt bridge, which electrochemists use to permit the flow of ionic charge between different electrolyte solutions. A salt bridge is a tube containing a relatively high concentration of an ionic salt such as potassium chloride. The electrolyte solution of the salt bridge may be held as a semisolid agar gel to make it easier to use. http://c.chem.ualberta.ca/courses/plambeck/p102/p02073.htm

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