What is the difference between a debit and a debit balance?

A debit is an entry on the left side of an account. For example, the account Cash is debited when cash is received. ... Most asset accounts and expense accounts will have debit balances. If the Cash account had $394,000 of debit amounts and $395,000 of credit amounts, the Cash account will have a credit balance of $1,000.

Debit refers to an entry side whereas debit balance refers to an excess entry side.

fully accepted with previous answers

A debit is an entry on the left side of an account. For example, the account Cash is debited when cash is received. The account Cash will be credited when cash is paid out. (A credit is an entry on the right side of an account.)

If a company's Cash account has $4,000 of debit amounts and $2,000 of credit amounts, the Cash account will have a debit balance of $2,000. Most asset accounts and expense accounts will have debit balances.