What's the difference between the positive and negative poles of the power supply?

The anode and cathode correspond to the outside of the battery, and the cathode and anode correspond to the reaction inside the battery. The electron-absorbing end is the cathode and the electron-donating end is the anode. Primary cells are called positive and negative electrodes, and electrolytic cells are called negative and anode. In other words, the interior of the primary battery is an electrolytic cell.