in re "wdym the other kind of kettle?" inquiries:
stovetop kettles have a wide base to sit on a burner, a handle, some variety of spout. many are metal as that conducts heat well. historically they had their spouts shaped to whistle when steam escaped so you'd know the water had reached boil, not all modern ones do this as the sound is both loud and annoying af.
electric kettles sometimes resemble their historical counterparts, but ime most are narrower so they take up less counter space. The usually have a disc base that plugs in, that you can lift the water vessel off of, though some have the heating element/cord attached directly to the pitcher part. Many have cheaper plastic elements since the water is more or less directly in contact with the heating element and heat does not have to be transmitted from an external burner. Also I think there's some appeal to clear materials so you can see the boil. There's usually an auto off safety feature (the kettle will turn off when the water boils and/or if it is empty). Some fancy electric kettles can be set to different temperatures, not just boiling (if you are a serious tea drinker, you know not all leaves brew at the same temp).
In general I am an electric kettle evangelist; I promise you, you can find basic models for like $20 at Target and they will be faster and more efficient than using your stove. And I prefer them to the microwave simply because microwaving also heats up the mug or bowl and makes it hard to handle.
But also there's not really a wrong way to boil water as long as you're not burning yourself. Everybody be safe and enjoy your hot beverages.
