The answer to 'why is my outlet not working' is that there are several common causes, such as a tripped circuit breaker, a loose or damaged electrical connection, or a problem with the wiring. Symptoms may include no power to the outlet, flickering lights, or sparks and buzzing sounds. Solutions can range from resetting the circuit breaker to replacing the outlet or calling an electrician.
If the outlet is not working, the first step is to check the circuit breaker. If the breaker has tripped, reset it and see if that restores power to the outlet. If the breaker continues to trip, there may be an issue with the wiring or the outlet itself that needs further investigation. You can also try plugging in another device to the outlet to verify it's not working.