What is the operating point of a Class A common emitter amplifier?

A Class A amplifier is designed so that output current flows continuously throughout the entire 360 degrees of an input AC cycle. To achieve this maximum linear voltage and current swing without clipping the top or bottom of the waveform, the resting or 'quiescent' operating point must be carefully centered on the amplifier's load line. Therefore, the bias is set approximately halfway between saturation (the point of maximum current flow) and cutoff (the point of zero current flow). If the operating point is too close to either extreme, the signal will clip, causing severe distortion. Distractors involving the midpoint between emitter and base voltages, or matching resistor values, are incorrect because they do not define the Class A linear operating region on a transistor's load line.