A component may be classified as passive, active or electromechanic.

The strict physics definition

treats passive components as ones that cannot supply energy themselves, whereas a battery would
be seen as an active component since it truly acts as a source of energy.
However, electronic engineers who perform circuit analysis use a more restrictive definition
of passivity. When only concerned with the energy of signals, it is convenient to ignore the socalled DC circuit and pretend that the power supplying components such astransistors or integrated
circuits is absent (as if each such component had its own battery built in), though it may in reality be
supplied by the DC circuit. Then, the analysis only concerns the so-called AC circuit, an abstraction
that ignores DC voltages and currents (and the power associated with them) present in the real-life
circuit. This fiction, for instance, lets us view an oscillator as "producing energy" even though in
reality the oscillator consumes even more energy from a DC power supply, which we have chosen to
ignore. Under that restriction, we define the terms as used in circuit analysis as:

Active components rely on a source of energy (usually from the DC circuit, which we have
chosen to ignore) and usually can inject power into a circuit, though this is not part of the
definition.[1]. Active components include amplifying components such astransistors,
triode vacuum tubes (valves), and tunnel diodes.

Passive components can't introduce net energy into the circuit. They also can't rely on a
source of power, except for what is available from the (AC) circuit they are connected to. As a
consequence they can't amplify (increase the power of a signal), although they may increase a
voltage or current (such as is done by a transformer or resonant circuit). Passive components
include two-terminal components such as resistors, capacitors, inductors, and transformers.

Electromechanical components can carry out electrical operations by using moving parts or
by using electrical connections

Most passive components with more than two terminals can be described in terms of two-port
parameters that satisfy the principle ofreciprocitythough there are rare exceptions.[2]. In contrast,
active components (with more than two terminals) generally lack that property.
[edit]Active

Components

[edit]Semiconductors
[edit]Diodes
Conduct electricity easily in one direction, among more specific behaviors.

Standard Diode, Rectifier, Bridge Rectifier

Schottky Diode, Hot Carrier Diode super fast diode with lower forward voltage drop

Zener Diode Passes current in reverse direction to provide a constant voltage reference

Transient Voltage Suppression Diode (TVS), Unipolar or Bipolar used to absorb high-voltage
spikes

Varactor, Tuning diode, Varicap, Variable Capacitance Diode A diode whose AC capacitance
varies according to the DC voltage applied.

Light Emitting Diode (LED) A diode that emits light

LASER Diode A semiconductor laser

Photodiode Passes current in proportion to incident light

Avalanche Photodiode Photodiode with internal gain

Solar Cell, photovoltaic cell, PV array or panel, produces power from light

Diode for Alternating Current (DIAC, Trigger Diode, SIDAC) Often used to trigger an SCR

Constant current Diode

Peltier cooler A semiconductor heat pump

[edit]Transistors
Transistors were considered the invention of the century they changed electronic circuits forever. the
first transistor was a vacuum tube transistors are an electronic switch when enough power go's
through it turns on some other aspect of the circuit Active componentsused for amplification.

Bipolar transistors

Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT, or simply "transistor") NPN or PNP

Darlington transistor NPN or PNP

Photo transistor Amplified photodetector

Photo Darlington Amplified photodetector

Sziklai pair (Compound transistor, complementary Darlington)

Field effect transistor (FET)

Junction Field Effect Transistor (JFET) N-CHANNEL or P-CHANNEL

Metal Oxide Semiconductor FET (MOSFET) N-CHANNEL or P-CHANNEL

MEtal Semiconductor FET (MESFET)

High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT)

Thyristors

Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR) Passes current only after triggered by a sufficient control
voltage on its gate

TRIode for Alternating Current (TRIAC) Bidirectional SCR

UniJunction Transistor (UJT)

Programmable UniJunction Transistor (PUT)

Static Induction Transistor/Thyristor (SIT, SITh)

Composite transistors

Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT)

[edit]Integrated circuits

Digital

Analog

Hall effect sensor Senses a magnetic field

Current sensor Senses a current through it

[edit]Optoelectronic devices

Optoelectronics

Opto-Isolator, Opto-Coupler, Photo-Coupler Photodiode, BJT, JFET, SCR, TRIAC, Zerocrossing TRIAC, Open collector IC, CMOS IC, Solid State Relay (SSR)

Opto Switch, Opto Interrupter, Optical Switch, Optical Interrupter, Photo switch, Photo
Interrupter

LED Display Seven-segment display, Sixteen-segment display, Dot matrix display

[edit]Display

technologies

Current:

Filament lamp (indicator lamp)

Vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) (preformed characters, 7 segment, starburst)

Cathode ray tube (CRT) (dot matrix scan (e.g. computer monitor), radial scan (e.g. radar),
arbitrary scan (e.g. oscilloscope)) (monochrome & colour)

LCD (preformed characters, dot matrix) (passive, TFT) (monochrome, colour)

Neon (individual, 7 segment display)

LED (individual, 7 segment display, starburst display, dot matrix)

Flap indicator (numeric, preprinted messages)

Plasma display (dot matrix)

Obsolete:

Filament lamp 7 segment display (aka 'minitron')

Nixie Tube

Dekatron (aka glow transfer tube)

Magic eye tube indicator

Penetron (a 2 colour see-through CRT)

[edit]Vacuum

tubes (Valves)

Based on current conduction through a vacuum (see Vacuum tube)

Diode or Rectifier tube

Amplifying tubes

Triode

Tetrode

Pentode

Hexode

Pentagrid

Octode

Microwave tubes

Klystron

Magnetron

Traveling-wave tube

Optical detectors or emitters

Phototube or Photodiode tube equivalent of semiconductor photodiode

Photomultiplier tube Phototube with internal gain

Cathode ray tube (CRT) or Television picture tube

Vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) Modern non-raster sort of small CRT display

Magic eye tube Small CRT display used as a tuning meter (obsolete)

X-ray tube Produces x-rays

[edit]Discharge

devices

Gas discharge tube

Obsolete:

Mercury arc rectifier

Voltage regulator tube

Nixie tube

Thyratron

Ignitron

[edit]Power

sources

Sources of electrical power:

Battery acid- or alkali-based power supply

Fuel cell an electrochemical generator

Power supply usually a mains hook-up

Photo voltaic device generates electricity from light

Thermo electric generator generates electricity from temperature gradients

Electrical generator an electromechanical power source

[edit]Passive

Components

[edit]Resistors

Pass current in proportion to voltage (Ohm's law). oppose flow of current

Resistor fixed value

Power resistor larger to safely dissipate heat generated

SIP or DIP resistor network array of resistors in one package

Variable resistor

Rheostat Two terminal variable resistor (often for high power)

Potentiometer Three terminal variable resistor (variable voltage divider)

Trim pot Small potentiometer, usually for internal adjustments

Heater heating element

Resistance wire, Nichrome wire wire of high-resistance material, often used as heating
element

Thermistor temperature-varied resistor

Humistor humidity-varied resistor

Varistor, Voltage Dependent Resistor, MOV Passes current when excessive voltage present

[edit]Capacitors
Capacitors store and release electrical charge. They are used for filtering power supply lines, tuning
resonant circuits, and for blocking DC voltages while passing AC signals, among numerous other
uses.

Capacitor

Integrated capacitors

MIS capacitor

Fixed capacitors

Ceramic capacitor

Film capacitor

Electrolytic capacitor

Aluminum electrolytic capacitor

Tantalum electrolytic capacitor

Niobium electrolytic capacitor

Polymer capacitor

OS-CON

Electric double-layer capacitor

Nanoionic supercapacitor

Lithium-ion capacitor

Mica capacitor

Vacuum capacitor

Variable capacitor adjustable capacitance

Tuning capacitor variable capacitor for tuning a radio, oscillator, or tuned circuit

Trimmer capacitor small variable capacitor usually for internal adjustments

Vacuum variable capacitor

Capacitors for special applications

Power capacitor

Safety capacitor

Filter capacitor

Light-emitting capacitor

Motor capacitor

Photoflash capacitor

Reservoir capacitor

Capacitor network (array)

Varicap diode AC capacitance varies according to the DC voltage applied

[edit]Magnetic

(inductive) devices

Electrical components that use magnetism:

Inductor, coil, choke

Variable inductor

Saturable Inductor

Transformer

Magnetic amplifier (toroid)

ferrite impedances, beads

Motor / Generator

Solenoid

speaker / microphone

[edit]Networks
Components that use more than one type of passive component:

RC network forms an RC circuit, used in snubbers

LC Network forms an LC circuit, used in tuneable transformers and RFI filters

[edit]Transducers,

sensors, detectors

1. Transducers generate physical effects when driven by an electrical signal, or vice-versa.

2. Sensors (detectors) are transducers that react to environmental conditions by changing their
electrical properties or generating an electrical signal.

3. The Transducers listed here are single electronic components (as opposed to complete
assemblies), and are passive (see Semiconductors and Tubes for active ones). Only the
most common ones are listed here.

Audio (see also Piezoelectric devices)

Loudspeaker Magnetic or piezoelectric device to generate full audio

Buzzer Magnetic or piezoelectric sounder to generate tones

Position, motion

Linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) Magnetic detects linear position

Rotary encoder, Shaft Encoder Optical, magnetic, resistive or switches detects absolute
or relative angle or rotational speed

Inclinometer Capacitive detects angle with respect to gravity

Motion sensor, Vibration sensor

Flow meter detects flow in liquid or gas

Force, torque

Strain gauge Piezoelectric or resistive detects squeezing, stretching, twisting

Accelerometer Piezoelectric detects acceleration, gravity

Thermal

Thermocouple, thermopile Wires that generate a voltage proportional to delta temperature

Thermistor Resistor whose resistance changes with temperature, up PTC or down NTC

Resistance Temperature Detector (RTD) Wire whose resistance changes with

temperature

Bolometer Device for measuring the power of incident electromagnetic radiation

Thermal cutoff Switch that is opened or closed when a set temperature is exceeded

Magnetic field (see also Hall Effect in semiconductors)

Humidity

Magnetometer, Gauss meter

Hygrometer

Electromagnetic, light

Photo resistor Light dependent resistor (LDR)

[edit]Antennas
Antennas transmit or receive radio waves

Elemental dipole

Yagi

Phased array

Loop antenna

Parabolic dish

Log-periodic dipole array

Biconical

Feedhorn

[edit]Assemblies,

modules

Multiple electronic components assembled in a device that is in itself used as a component

Oscillator

Display devices

Liquid crystal display (LCD)

Digital voltmeters

Filter

[edit]Prototyping

Wire-wrap

Breadboard

aids

[edit]Electromechanical
[edit]Piezoelectric

Components

devices, crystals, resonators

Passive components that use piezoelectric effect:

Components that use the effect to generate or filter high frequencies

Crystal a ceramic crystal used to generate precise frequencies (See the Modules class
below for complete oscillators)

Ceramic resonator Is a ceramic crystal used to generate semi-precise frequencies

Ceramic filter Is a ceramic crystal used to filter a band of frequencies such as in radio
receivers

surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters

Components that use the effect as mechanical transducers.

Ultrasonic motor Electric motor that uses the piezoelectric effect

For piezo buzzers and microphones, see the Transducer class below

[edit]Terminals

and connectors

Devices to make electrical connection

Terminal

Connector

Socket

Screw terminal, Terminal Blocks

Pin header

[edit]Cable

assemblies

Cables with connectors or terminals at their ends

Power cord

Patch cord

Test lead

[edit]Switches
Components that can pass current ("closed") or break the flow of current ("open"):

Switch Manually operated switch.

Electrical description: SPST, SPDT, DPST, DPDT, NPNT (general)

Technology: slide switches, toggle switches, rocker switches, rotary switches, pushbutton
switches

Keypad Array of pushbutton switches

DIP switch Small array of switches for internal configuration settings

Footswitch Foot-operated switch

Knife switch Switch with unenclosed conductors

Micro switch Mechanically activated switch with snap action

Limit switch Mechanically activated switch to sense limit of motion

Mercury switch Switch sensing tilt

Centrifugal switch Switch sensing centrifugal force due to rate of rotation

Relay Electrically operated switch (mechanical, also see Solid State Relay below)

Reed switch Magnetically activated switch

Thermostat Thermally activated switch

Humidistat Humidity activated switch

Circuit Breaker Switch opened in response to excessive current: a resettable fuse

[edit]Protection

devices

Passive components that protect circuits from excessive currents or voltages:

Fuse over-current protection, one time use

Circuit Breaker resettable fuse in the form of a mechanical switch

Resettable fuse or PolySwitch circuit breaker action using solid state device

Ground-fault protection or residual-current device circuit breaker sensitive to mains currents

passing to ground

Metal oxide varistor (MOV), surge absorber, TVS Over-voltage protection.

Inrush current limiter protection against initial Inrush current

Gas discharge tube protection against high voltage surges

Spark gap electrodes with a gap to arc over at a high voltage

Lightning arrester spark gap used to protect against lightning strikes

[edit]Mechanical

accessories

Enclosure (electrical)

Heat sink

Fan

[edit]Other

Printed circuit boards

Lamp

Waveguide

Memristor

Obsolete:

Carbon amplifier (see Carbon microphones used as amplifiers)

Carbon arc (negative resistance device)

Dynamo (historic rf generator)

Resistors

American-style resistor (a), rheostat (variable resistor) (b), and potentiometer (c)

IEC-style resistor

[edit]Capacitors

Capacitor

Capacitor, polarized (American)

Capacitor, variable

[edit]Transistors

NPN transistor

PNP transistor

n-channel junction gate field-effect transistor (JFET)

p-channel junction gate field-effect transistor (JFET)

Field-effect transistor

[edit]Diodes

Diode

Zener diode

Tunnel diode

Schottky diode

Light Emitting Diode (LED)

Photodiode

Varicap

[edit]Vacuum

tubes

Vacuum tube diode

Vacuum tube triode

Vacuum tube tetrode

Vacuum tube pentode

[edit]Switches

Switch, Single Pole/Single Throw (SPST)

Switch, Single Pole/Double Throw (SPDT)

Switch, Double Pole/Double Throw (DPDT)

[edit]Miscellaneous

Single cell, multi-cellbattery

Inductor

Transformer with center tap

Silicon-controlled rectifier

Fuse: IEC (top) and American (lower two)

Phone jacks

Wires and connections

Component
Wire

Wires joined

Circuit Symbol

Function of Component
To pass current very easily from one part of a
circuit to another.
A 'blob' should be drawn where wires are
connected (joined), but it is sometimes omitted.
Wires connected at 'crossroads' should be
staggered slightly to form two T-junctions, as
shown on the right.

In complex diagrams it is often necessary to

draw wires crossing even though they are not
connected. I prefer the 'bridge' symbol shown on
the right because the simple crossing on the left
may be misread as a join where you have
forgotten to add a 'blob'!

Wires not joined

Power Supplies
Component

Circuit Symbol

Function of Component
Supplies electrical energy.
The larger terminal (on the left) is positive (+).

Cell

A single cell is often called a battery, but strictly a battery is

two or more cells joined together.

Supplies electrical energy. A battery is more than

one cell.
The larger terminal (on the left) is positive (+).

Battery

DC supply

Supplies electrical energy.

DC = Direct Current, always flowing in one
direction.

AC supply

Supplies electrical energy.

AC = Alternating Current, continually changing
direction.
A safety device which will 'blow' (melt) if the
current flowing through it exceeds a specified
value.

Fuse

Transformer

Two coils of wire linked by an iron core.

Transformers are used to step up (increase) and
step down (decrease) AC voltages. Energy is
transferred between the coils by the magnetic
field in the core. There is no electrical connection
between the coils.

Earth
(Ground)

A connection to earth. For many electronic

circuits this is the 0V (zero volts) of the power
supply, but for mains electricity and some radio
circuits it really means the earth. It is also known
as ground.

Output Devices: Lamps, Heater, Motor, etc.

Component

Circuit Symbol

Function of Component

Lamp (lighting)

A transducer which converts electrical energy to

light. This symbol is used for a lamp providing
illumination, for example a car headlamp or
torch bulb.

Lamp (indicator)

A transducer which converts electrical energy to

light. This symbol is used for a lamp which is an
indicator, for example a warning light on a car
dashboard.

Heater

A transducer which converts electrical energy to

heat.

Motor

A transducer which converts electrical energy to

kinetic energy (motion).

Bell

A transducer which converts electrical energy to

sound.

Buzzer

A transducer which converts electrical energy to

sound.
A coil of wire which creates a magnetic field
when current passes through it. It may have an
iron core inside the coil. It can be used as a
transducer converting electrical energy to
mechanical energy by pulling on something.

Inductor
(Coil, Solenoid)

Switches
Component

Circuit Symbol

Function of Component

Push Switch
(push-to-make)

A push switch allows current to flow only

when the button is pressed. This is the switch
used to operate a doorbell.

Push-to-Break
Switch

This type of push switch is normally closed

(on), it is open (off) only when the button is
pressed.

On-Off Switch
(SPST)

SPST = Single Pole, Single Throw.

An on-off switch allows current to flow only
when it is in the closed (on) position.

2-way Switch
(SPDT)

SPDT = Single Pole, Double Throw.

A 2-way changeover switch directs the flow
of current to one of two routes according to

its position. Some SPDT switches have a

central off position and are described as 'onoff-on'.
DPST = Double Pole, Single Throw.
A dual on-off switch which is often used to
switch mains electricity because it can isolate
both the live and neutral connections.

Dual On-Off
Switch
(DPST)

DPDT = Double Pole, Double Throw.

This switch can be wired up as a reversing
switch for a motor. Some DPDT switches
have a central off position.

Reversing
Switch
(DPDT)

An electrically operated switch, for example

a 9V battery circuit connected to the coil can
switch a 230V AC mains circuit.

Relay

NO = Normally Open, COM = Common,

NC = Normally Closed.

Resistors
Component

Resistor

Circuit Symbol

Function of Component
A resistor restricts the flow of current, for
example to limit the current passing through an
LED. A resistor is used with a capacitor in a
timing circuit.
Some publications still use the old resistor
symbol:

Variable Resistor
(Rheostat)

This type of variable resistor with 2 contacts (a

rheostat) is usually used to control current.
Examples include: adjusting lamp brightness,
adjusting motor speed, and adjusting the rate of
flow of charge into a capacitor in a timing
circuit.

Variable Resistor
(Potentiometer)

This type of variable resistor with 3 contacts (a

potentiometer) is usually used to control
voltage. It can be used like this as a transducer
converting position (angle of the control
spindle) to an electrical signal.

Variable Resistor
(Preset)

This type of variable resistor (a preset) is

operated with a small screwdriver or similar
tool. It is designed to be set when the circuit is
made and then left without further adjustment.

Presets are cheaper than normal variable

resistors so they are often used in projects to
reduce the cost.

Capacitors
Component

Circuit Symbol

Function of Component

Capacitor

A capacitor stores electric charge. A capacitor

is used with a resistor in a timing circuit. It
can also be used as a filter, to block DC
signals but pass AC signals.

Capacitor,
polarised

A capacitor stores electric charge. This type

must be connected the correct way round. A
capacitor is used with a resistor in a timing
circuit. It can also be used as a filter, to block
DC signals but pass AC signals.

Variable Capacitor

A variable capacitor is used in a radio tuner.

This type of variable capacitor (a trimmer) is
operated with a small screwdriver or similar
tool. It is designed to be set when the circuit is
made and then left without further adjustment.

Trimmer
Capacitor

Diodes
Component

Circuit Symbol

Function of Component

Diode

A device which only allows current to flow in

one direction.

LED

A transducer which converts electrical energy

to light.

Light Emitting Diode

Zener Diode

A special diode which is used to maintain a

fixed voltage across its terminals.

Photodiode

A light-sensitive diode.

Transistors
Component

Circuit Symbol

Function of Component

Transistor NPN

A transistor amplifies current. It can be used with other

components to make an amplifier or switching circuit.

Transistor PNP

A transistor amplifies current. It can be used with other

components to make an amplifier or switching circuit.

Phototransistor

A light-sensitive transistor.

Audio and Radio Devices

Component

Circuit Symbol

Function of Component

Microphone

A transducer which converts sound to electrical

energy.

Earphone

A transducer which converts electrical energy to

sound.

Loudspeaker

A transducer which converts electrical energy to

sound.

Piezo Transducer

A transducer which converts electrical energy to

sound.

Amplifier
(general symbol)

Aerial
(Antenna)

An amplifier circuit with one input. Really it is a block

diagram symbol because it represents a circuit rather
than just one component.

A device which is designed to receive or transmit

radio signals. It is also known as an antenna.

Meters and Oscilloscope

Component

Circuit Symbol

Function of Component
A voltmeter is used to measure voltage.

Voltmeter

The proper name for voltage is 'potential difference', but

most people prefer to say voltage!

Ammeter

An ammeter is used to measure current.

Galvanometer

A galvanometer is a very sensitive meter which is

used to measure tiny currents, usually 1mA or
less.

Ohmmeter

An ohmmeter is used to measure resistance. Most

multimeters have an ohmmeter setting.
An oscilloscope is used to display the shape of
electrical signals and it can be used to measure
their voltage and time period.

Oscilloscope

Sensors (input devices)

Component

Circuit Symbol

Function of Component

LDR

A transducer which converts brightness (light) to

resistance (an electrical property).
LDR = Light Dependent Resistor

Thermistor

A transducer which converts temperature (heat) to

resistance (an electrical property).

Logic Gates
Logic gates process signals which represent true (1, high, +Vs, on) or false (0, low, 0V, off).
For more information please see the Logic Gates page.
There are two sets of symbols: traditional and IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission).

Gate
Type

NOT

Traditional
Symbol

IEC Symbol

Function of Gate
A NOT gate can only have one input. The
'o' on the output means 'not'. The output of
a NOT gate is the inverse (opposite) of its
input, so the output is true when the input
is false. A NOT gate is also called an
inverter.

AND

An AND gate can have two or more

inputs. The output of an AND gate is true
when all its inputs are true.

NAND

A NAND gate can have two or more

inputs. The 'o' on the output means 'not'
showing that it is a Not AND gate. The
output of a NAND gate is true unless all
its inputs are true.

OR

An OR gate can have two or more inputs.

The output of an OR gate is true when at
least one of its inputs is true.

NOR

A NOR gate can have two or more inputs.

The 'o' on the output means 'not' showing
that it is aNot OR gate. The output of a
NOR gate is true when none of its inputs
are true.

EX-OR

An EX-OR gate can only have two inputs.

The output of an EX-OR gate is true when
its inputs are different (one true, one false).

EXNOR

An EX-NOR gate can only have two

inputs. The 'o' on the output means 'not'
showing that it is a Not EX-OR gate. The
output of an EX-NOR gate is true when its
inputs are the same (both true or both
false).