Abstract: A mass flowmeter including a resistive wire adapted to be placed across the path of a fluid whose flow rate is to be measured, a controller unit for applying electrical energy to the wire, and a processor unit for deducing the mass flow rate of the fluid from variations in the temperature of the fluid. In one embodiment, the controller unit applies current pulses to the wire during given periods and the processor unit determines the rate at which the wire cools between pulses. The invention is applicable to measuring any mass flow rate in various environments.