What do current liabilities include?

Current liabilities are obligations that a company is expected to settle within one year or within its operating cycle, whichever is longer. This category includes items such as accounts payable, short-term debt, accrued expenses, and other financial commitments that are due in the near term. By definition, current liabilities are vital for assessing a company's short-term financial health and liquidity.

This understanding differentiates current liabilities from long-term debt obligations, equity accounts, and long-term investment commitments, which do not fit the criteria of being due within the shorter timeframe. Therefore, focusing on financial commitments that are due within one year accurately captures what constitutes current liabilities.