I'm taking an electronic circuit analysis class, and I was asked to give the color of the 3rd band of a 1MΩ resistor. My answer was blue, thinking it could be black-brown-blue (01 \* 1MΩ), but the automated quiz said the correct answer was green (brown-black-green).

So I did some research, thinking there were just multiple correct answers, and I read in a few places that **the first band on a resistor is never black (0). Why is this?** Does a black first band have some other meaning? It would really help me remember it if I knew the history or reasoning behind it.

***This question has been answered. For further reading on zero-ohm resistors mentioned in the answers and comments here, I found these questions and answers helpful:***

1. [What is the usage of Zero Ohm & MiliOhm Resistor?](https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/42756/what-is-the-usage-of-zero-ohm-miliohm-resistor)
2. [Zero ohm resistor tolerance?](https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/5369/zero-ohm-resistor-tolerance)