Why does electrical current always flow from areas of negative charge to areas of positive charge?

Question

anonymous · Answer

bcoz of convention, direction of current is taken in the direction of flow of +ve charge.
and we know why a +ve charge flow towards area of -ve charge from area of +ve charge.

shane_b · Answer

It's not really just a convention.  In electrical circuits, current is caused by the flow of electrons which are attracted to less-negatively charged atoms (that is: more positively charged atoms).  

Most physics textbooks that I've seen teach the opposite: current flow from + to - ("hole flow") and that's also commonly taught in schools.  However, if you're ever going to work in the semiconductor field, it's imperative that you understand that the actual flow is from - to + ("electron flow").

In most cases it doesn't really matter how you picture it...the calculations are the same and it all boils down to a matter of convention.

fwizbang · Answer

It doesn't. When you charge a capacitor, current flows toward the positively charged plate, but when you discharge the same capacitor, it flows away from 
the positive plate.

In general the direction of current flow in a circuit is determined by differences in electric potential, not charge.