The principle of the two is actually the same, except that the electrodes of the two are opposite and the goals achieved are also opposite. The former is a coating, and the latter is dissolution and peeling.

1. Electroplating uses the metal to be plated as the cathode, the coating metal as the anode, and the solution containing the coating metal ions as the plating solution. An external power supply is applied to cause a redox reaction, and the coating metal is adsorbed to the surface of the metal to be plated.
2. Electrolysis is to use the metal to be polished as the anode and the lead plate or stainless steel plate as the cathode. An external power supply is applied to cause an oxidation-reduction reaction, and the surface of the metal to be polished is selectively dissolved to obtain a bright and smooth surface.
3. The steady current method is generally used in the electroplating process, and the current density required for electroplating is small. Electrolysis generally uses voltage stabilization, which requires high current density. Steady current is to maintain the current at a regulated value. The voltage is related to the impedance of the load and the conductivity of the electrolyte solution. Voltage regulation is to maintain the output voltage at a regulated value, and the current is related to the impedance of the load.