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Fuses and circuit breakers serve the same fundamental purpose of protecting electrical circuits by interrupting current flow in the event of an overload or short circuit, but they accomplish this in different ways.

Fuses contain a metal wire or filament that melts when the current exceeds a certain level, thereby breaking the circuit and stopping the flow of electricity. This is a permanent action; once a fuse has melted, it must be replaced to restore function.

On the other hand, circuit breakers are mechanical devices that trip and open the circuit when an overload occurs. They can be reset either manually or automatically, allowing them to restore the circuit without needing replacement.

Thus, fuses do indeed melt to interrupt current flow, while circuit breakers provide an option for resetting the device after addressing the overload issue. This distinction highlights the significant difference in how the two devices operate and maintain circuit safety.