What type of receptacle can replace an existing two-wire nongrounding-type receptacle in a location where a GFCI is required?

A GFCI receptacle is the appropriate choice for replacing an existing two-wire nongrounding-type receptacle in a location where a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) is required. GFCI receptacles are designed specifically to provide protection against ground faults, which can cause electric shock.

When installed, a GFCI receptacle will monitor the current flow through the circuit. If it detects an imbalance—meaning that some current is leaking to the ground—it will interrupt the circuit, thus enhancing safety in areas where moisture or wet conditions are likely.

The context of the other options is important to understand why they are not suitable. A two-wire nongrounding-type receptacle lacks the necessary grounding feature and does not provide any protection against ground faults, which is critical in GFCI-required locations. A three-wire grounding-type receptacle requires a proper ground connection to function correctly, which may not be available in older wiring setups that originally only supported two-wire systems. Choosing any of these options would not provide the necessary protection and safety that a GFCI receptacle does.