I learned about the basic electronic components by going to the library and reading books.
I was just starting out.
And I felt like a lot of the books explained everything in a difficult way.
In this article, I will give you a simple overview, with an explanation of the basic electronic components – what they are and what they do.
The Most Common Basic Electronic Components
These are the most common components:
- Resistors
- Capacitors
- LEDs
- Transistors
- Inductors
- Integrated Circuits
Resistor
Find the resistor symbol in the schematic symbols overview.
I didn’t understand the resistor in the beginning.
It didn’t seem to do anything! It was just there, consuming power. But with time, I learned that the resistor is actually extremely useful.
You’ll see resistors everywhere. And as the name suggests, they resist the current.
But you are probably wondering: What do I use it for?
You use the resistor to control the voltages and the currents in your circuit.
How?
By using Ohm’s law.
Let’s say you have a 9V battery and you want to turn on a Light-Emitting Diode (LED).
If you connect the battery directly to the LED, LOTS of current will flow through the LED!
Much more that the LED can handle. So the LED will become very hot and burn out after a short amount of time.
But – if you put a resistor in series with the LED, you can control how much current is going through the LED.
In this case we call it a current limiting resistor.
Capacitor
Find the capacitor symbol in the schematic symbols overview.
You can think of a capacitor as a battery with very low capacity.
You can charge and discharge it just like a battery.
The capacitor is often used to introduce a time-delay in a circuit.
For example to blink a light.
It’s commonly used for removing noise, or making the supply voltage of a circuit more stable.
Read more about the capacitor in this article: How Does A Capacitor Work?
There are many capacitor types. Most commonly, we divide them into polarized and non-polarized capacitors.
Light Emitting Diode (LED)
Find the LED symbol in the schematic symbols overview.
A Light Emitting Diode – or LED for short – is a component that can give light.
We use LEDs to give a visual feedback from our circuit.
For example to show that the circuit has power. But, you can also used them to make cool light-show circuits.
You see these components everywhere:
In your laptop, on your mobile phone, on your camera, in your car +++
And you can find many different types of LEDs.
A very common circuit to build as a beginner is the blinking light circuit.
Transistor
Find the transistor symbol in the schematic symbols overview.
This is probably the hardest of the basic electronic components to understand.
But don’t worry, it’s not that hard.
A simple way is to look at the transistor as a switch controlled by an electrical signal.
If you put about 0.7 volts between the base and the emitter, you turn it on.
Note that this is true for NPN transistors. There are also other types, but worry about these later.
But, instead of having just two states (ON or OFF), it can also be “a bit on” by controlling the current that goes through its base.
A bit of current on the base produces a current of maybe 100 times more (depending on the transistor) through the Collector and Emitter. We can use this effect to build amplifiers.
I’ve previously made a video on how transistors work.
Inductor
Find the inductor symbol in the schematic symbols overview.
Inductors are a bit weird.
It’s just a coil of wire – and you can make one yourself by making some loops out of a wire.
Sometimes they’re wound around a metal core of some sort.
They are often used to make radio oscillators, more efficient power supplies, and filters.
It’s not that often that I used one actually, but in my article What is an inductor? you can see how it works with some nice animations.
Integrated Circuit
Find the integrated circuit symbol in the schematic symbols overview.
An Integrated Circuit (IC) consists of many basic electronic components.
It’s nothing mysterious or magical.
It’s just an electronic circuit that has been shrunk to fit inside a chip.
It could be an amplifier, it could be a microprocessor, it could be a USB to serial converter… It could be anything!
To figure out what a specific IC does, you can read its datasheet.
What to do next?
Now, you know a bit about the basic electronic components.
But don’t just read about it – take action and start building electronics:
Ohmify is an online academy for electronics. Learn to build your ideas with electronics, even if you have no experience from before. It includes a community forum where you can ask questions about what you are learning or if you’re stuck on your on project.
Click here to learn more about Ohmify.
Do you understand the basic electronic components? Leave your comment or questions in the comment field below!
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diode using to inductar
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Elva says
PCB/PCBA OEM Manufacture, if you need help, please contact me freely!Thank you. email: [email protected]
loveleader says
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Zahir says
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Velan says
Really awsome
Emmanuel says
Very helpful
Kate says
Really helped thx
shahid says
pleas send me ic how to know data sheet
NR JOSHI says
its very useful. Thanks.
yash bhagwat says
very good expanation . anyone will understand it.
najeeb says
thangs
runa khatiwoda says
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Karthick says
Hi am karthick
I am recently joined in a laptop service center
I don’t know much about electronic
I just know little bit. If u tell me guide me or give me some tips
That how can I troubleshoot the mother bird problem like no power , when connect the Adaptor to the laptop the goes off and how to trace out the some failure or short component in mother boards. If u can help this
manish dwivedi says
i think its so gud.
Dinush says
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tinu says
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Maha says
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ahmed shah says
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longz says
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Egocentric says
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Ssevume says
Technical drawing teachings
longz says
easy to understand.and helpful, perfect
Hugh Simpson says
I recommend fritzing if you want to build circuits, it’s an open source software where you can build your own circuits digitally.
Pritesh Vavre says
I like your basis idea , its eazy understand and very helpful.
Reokedicwe M Moss says
If a circuit is not complete what happens?
What does a need so that it can work properly?
admin says
If it is not complete, that is you don’t have a closed loop, then no current will flow and nothing will happen.
Cheers!
Oyvind
willis says
good
Chris says
So a transistor is like a switch that i can put in halfway down a power wire for like an LED and turn it on from somewhere else with a switch that powers the transistor. And then transistor will turn the LED on and off by controlling the power flow into it. Have i got that right?
admin says
Hey Chris,
I don’t understand what you mean by “put in halfway down a power wire”…
Can you clarify?
Cheers!
Oyvind
s.h.a says
yes and you have a low power remot control
Bablu Lachure says
Awesome simple language to clear basis concepts of electronic components.
Huge thanks Oyvind Nydal Dahl
Awaiting eagerly your forthcoming articles
anu says
its really very helpfull and unstandable
shehan says
simple
sweet
an very use full
Emmanuel Morrison says
You really know how to teach. I understand a bit now. I would like to learn more.
tiemo ipite " AGE" says
Wow I,ve been an art student since, after reading this explanation I just switched to science…… Thank u for dis explanation!!
john says
stfu lol
asm misfar says
sir, i have to face the electronic competition.. But, i don’t know about electronic.. So, sir, could you please tell me or guid me how to make a simple electronic device…..?
admin says
Try this: https://www.build-electronic-circuits.com/electronics-for-beginners/
Electrical Capacitor says
Capacitors have been used in many appliances all around the world. From basic appliances like TV sets and microwaves to large satellites in space, capacitors have a function everywhere. Great post! Good that you share your practical knowledge.
Sandeep yadav says
This is nice to know about our circuit in simple way
SnowBerry says
Øyvind, I am very new to this stuff and you are a great person for making this website so you can freely express your knowledge. I am very thankful that put your time in making these articles for the people who will one day mold the future. Thank you Øyvind!:D
admin says
Thanks =)
Oyvind
draco says
this is very help full for my report on a circuit paper i have to do. I am a new circuit builder
aidan says
thank this helped with my report for 7 grade on circuits
John Pratt says
Thank you very much, i think you are created to help newbies like me, after getting your e-book getting started with electronics my level is gradually increasing as i’ve started understanding and building simple stuff which makes me never wanting to stop cos i find them exciting alway willing to do more .
Thanks
admin says
Hey John,
That’s great to hear! Let me know if you have any questions along the way.
Cheers!
Oyvind
DEVNI says
All the info here are really useful since they are very short and to the point so we can clearly understand.. but can you explain what is a base Material(use in PCBs) and i’m doing a project about PCBs. can you advice me about the things that I have to include in my book?
admin says
Hey,
Materials in PCB are often FR4, but can be other types as well. But I have no idea what you should include in your book. Maybe this page can give you some ideas: https://www.build-electronic-circuits.com/pcb-design/
Cheers!
Oyvind
natan says
it will be very helpfull. If you can make it clear on transistor and ic. Tnx
dd says
it’s ver useful to electronic students ..easy way to understand it
IvanB says
Hello!
For all electronic fans, you will find here a lot of basic stuctures used in analog electronic:
shematronic.ddns.net
Meekee says
I’m a newbie and always desiring to get more knowledge on electronic, i find this tutorial to be so helpful. And though the turorial is short but it is rich.
You’re doing a great work here, God bless you.
jale mailulu says
very helpful indeed
thanks
pratyusha says
that was a great description..god bless you!!!
admin says
Thansk! =)
Oyvind
belcom says
nice explanation of what i have needed. Thanks sir. Keep doing more
admin says
Great to hear! =)
Oyvind
Harsha says
Really Awesome…
thnx its very helpful to me…
wayne says
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I would say this is one of your paths GOD gave you to share GOD BLESS
PS. I THANK YOU FOR MAKING MY BRAIN A LOT MORE KNOWLEDGED
AND I WILL ACCEPT ALL THAT YOU CAN SHARE
WAYNE WRONA
vaibhab says
Can you explane how interpret circuit works
josh says
very helpful, thank you
samson says
bro i feel like an electronics genius…thnks
Raju kumar says
it’s helpfull, thankfull.
Harimax says
Its really useful..
Harimax says
Super
Brian Holmes says
Thanks for some good descriptions of electric circuit components (especially resistors which sort of baffled me too).
Vijay Chavda says
It’s very helpfull for electronic student.
deepesh says
Use full information
Kanishk says
got it through gud to be familiar with electro organs kidding thanx
Daniel says
I love this post. Have really gained from this, I wish to go futher by building a 12v charger.
Akbar Khan says
Really you have the capability & potential to teach even a raw student in electronics. Much thanks owe to me.
Peter says
hi sir…
i really find your tutorial, more intresting. kudos.. thats so great jst keep it up..
actually i will be starting my project work and i hope for your assistance.
thank you.
kevin omollo says
simple language and you’ve made it simple to understand components.
Vaibhav Kulkarni says
This is very very nice website to learn basic electronics. Thank you very much.
Suraj mal saini says
Wall-come your in electronic
suchitra joglekar says
very helpful. n awesome
fathima ruhaiya naizar says
awesome discription….. its very useful to us……………….
Febi says
Very helpful, thanks
sarah andrews says
Thank you so much for this I will always use thisw website
asokan says
very useful
William says
Good explanation. Helped me a lot with my DT homework
sarah andrews says
this is really helping me thank you thank you
Aslam Khan says
yes this is very nice for future. and I want to learn more deeply. I am from Electrical
sk naser mahammad says
It is thankful for me…thanku very much.
Kingsley peter says
Hi bro thanks for this, am learning. please I like to download 10 Steps To Learn To Build Electronics, but it not download as I clicked on the download button…
admin says
Hey, just follow the instructions and you should get to the download. If you get an error message, please let me know.
Best,
Oyvind
gopi says
very nice site for learning the basic electronics
Tony Edwards says
Good day to you, I am trying to repair a PCB but am finding it difficult to procure the resistor that has blown. The resistor has specific coloured bands on it. Any suggestions on how to identify the manufacturer of this specific resistor?
admin says
You can find the codes here: https://www.build-electronic-circuits.com/resistor-color-codes/
Best,
Oyvind
Milind Bhikaji Kedare says
i agree electronic future
gaorg pinecone says
this is shit
Ankit khatri says
I really hands off you not for the simple and easy explanation of the components of the but for the labour you did for finding all these informations in a simple way……..
Thank you very much………
admin says
I’m glad to hear that =)
Oyvind
James Bergman says
You did a really good job explaining the parts of a circuit. I’m sure that I read similar books to you in the beginning and it always took me reading the information two or three times before it really sank in. I just wanted to learn how circuit boards worked and it didn’t take long to get in over my head. Your explanation is much better for a beginner and I feel like the books would have made much more sense if I had read this first.
admin says
That’s great to hear!
Oyvind
Ray says
please sir I need to know TV components and their functions. how to assemble TV
hdj says
it’s weird,amazing,your explaination have just graduated my level,great tkx to you
precious says
thanks, clearly understood but can you name more of this circuit component. pls.
Abdul haq says
Beautiful tips
ravi Kant sonkar says
I ravi Kant like learning circit digram but I have no book and no institution and no teacher related this subject
Sheik says
Useful article I saw in my life
Preeti says
Thanks a lot. This has really helped me
click here says
Very good article for new electronics repairers,I am the new electronics repairman,I need to learn about ic555 can you help me? thank you
ansh says
Thanks man. Really helped me for my science olympiad. I am 10 and will turn 11 on may 9th 2017. I’m doing circuit design for the science olympiad so this really helped. :)
Deba Pratim Borah says
They are very useful and Easy to understand… Thnk you so much sir
Carter Clemens says
What are some things that use circuits
Jaan says
Thank you so much for the guidance ..good to clear basics
triac dimmable driver says
Normally i purchase leds from led123.ca/en but i could not know how to build a led circuit board at home if you have some knowledge so you can share with because your this blog really helpful those who want to learn more about electricity
Wendy says
I have made some DIYs before and last time it was a speaker with the led light. You should try more, it was not very difficult as long as you have the right introduction and all tools on hand.
Darda Kerkula says
Hi, can I download a book from your website, if so how.
Diane says
What is an inductor
Addi Psy says
I’m one of the newbies and I must confess that i’ve learnt alot from your teachings As there are always very easy and simply to comprehend. Thanks!
Angel says
Hi, I just don’t understand.
Deena says
very useful- Thank you for writing it in a simple way, So that it is easy to understand.
Amritha says
Nice explanation
DE APOGEE says
Thanks for this write up
i want to know all about electronics
pramod kr pandey says
hi i m pramod kr. pandey
n i m jst completed my plytchnic in 2013
but no given to me a chance to expressed in this line electronics
plz gv a sujjesto how to improve in my life in the line of electronic ;
mahin says
a device having a designed resistance to the passage of an electric current.
Vivek says
Sir, give all electronics component list and work with theory..
Olabamiji Victor says
i want to embark on building electrical circuits, i want to get components in bulk please can you help
admin says
Try this:
https://www.build-electronic-circuits.com/buy-electronic-components/
Joel says
I like the explanation so please can you provide me more on electronics
Hesam says
Thank you Man, You are really effective for your world!
I want Best things for You.
San mestry says
Thank u so much for sharing great information with us .This info definately improve my knowledge about electronics…thanks
Raghu says
Thank you very much!!!
Nikhil Girkar says
I’m just started studying electronics. Suggest me some I.C.’s for making circuits.
Keshav Karunakar says
Oh….it was amazing description….🙂
Bradley Munchel says
this was so interesting
rachaeld says
I love it!
David says
Thanks very much
My teacher do not explain it well,
But you let me understand it very well
Thanks for help .
Richard says
Thanks for this article.
I think it’s a good start to learn PCB from this website.
Rabin Das says
I need hobby electronic PCB
joyeuse uwikunda says
thank you for this
Musicallife2491 says
Thank you for typing this up. I am trying to build a robot like baymax from Big Hero 6 by hand and looking up things used in computers, microchips, and codes that will help me in this case. I am willing to make it learn two languages and to do things like this, I need to know the basics and this article helps me understand what I need and how to use it.
admin says
Sounds like a fun project!
Best,
Oyvind
Suriyakala says
It’s very useful to ece students especially me
logesh says
what is the board used in it
Bhavya says
It’s from starting… Helpful… Thank-you….😊
Ivy Baker says
This is some really good information about circuit boards. I liked that you pointed out that LEDs can be a really great visual feedback. It is good to know that a can help you figure out if it is working properly.
Humza Liaqat says
Dear, i am confused about what you have written about resistor. I think when we connect a resistor in series with the led the current will remain same because in series current remain same but voltage divides so i think in this case the resistor act as a voltage limiting resistor.
admin says
Hi,
A LED without the resistor in series will have a lot of current flowing through it. Let’s say 100 mA for the sake of the explanation. But if you add a 330 Ohm resistor in series with it, the current is 21mA.
The current is the same in the LED and in the resistor yes, but if you compare the circuit with and without a resistor – you’ll see that a resistor in series limits the current.
Best,
Oyvind
Mbali says
Hi. I’m having a difficult time finding your “Getting started with electronics” book in South Africa☹️Is the book available this side?
admin says
Hi,
It’s only available as a downloadable eBook, which means you can buy and download it anywhere in the world. Here’s the link: https://www.build-electronic-circuits.com/products/ebook-2nd-edition/
Best,
Oyvind
Steve says
Thanks so much for this. I’m starting a new electronics blog and this information is really simple to understand and helpful.
Connector Manufacturer says
Thank you for such essential tips. It would definitely help all following components.
Vae Solis says
Shout out to Øyvind! This blog post has stood the test of time, hasn’t it?
Wanted to bump an earlier comment from the summer of ’15 by Hugh Simpson (if that is your real name), turning me on to Fritzing (fritzing.org). Awesome software and community!
Thanks Øyvind, keep up the good work!
admin says
Glad I could help!
Oyvind
Diepiriye Benjamin says
good morning please i am new in this field and i have passion for this …I realii want to know how to get started…how to connect components in a dash board
willis says
electronic parts type is too much ，thank you ！ i have learned more about how to use
skin says
Hey now,
I have a box fan that stopped working. I tore it apart and found 1 electronic component, Besides the copper wire and the metal it was wrapped around.The component looks like a black box with a couple wires coming out of it. Can you tell me what this little black box is and what it does in relation to the workings of the fan? I actually have like 5 fans and they all have the same black box and all 5 don’t work. Could you help me understand what these boxes are all about? Some yahoo told me that they are capacitors, and that they help the fan start spinning, but if thats the case, why when I help the fan start spinning with my hand, they still don’t work. Whats up with that? By the way,your site is my goto electronics site when im confused.It helps me understand what the parts are and what they do, but my brain is confused when i look at all the parts, and i seem to instantly forget what they do, maybe some electric field fried my brain,but most likely…..I’m just stupid. Love the site and thank you from the bottom of my heart, nobody else is trying to teach people about this stuff in a way that’s understandable to the non electrician .
Sincerely, skin
admin says
Hey skin,
I’ve never really looked into the components of a fan, but yes, sounds very much like a capacitor you are seeing. And when googling, I found this answer that explains how it works:
https://www.quora.com/How-does-a-capacitor-work-in-a-fan
Victor says
It’s interesting
Abed says
It’s helpful
Stephen says
Great article, i have read all your articles. I am working at allchips limited from last month, i want learn more. Our website is electronic components supply chain, but no explain of them…
SAMUEL says
PLEASE sir, i want to build a mobile charger circuit diagram 100-220v AC circuits DIY i have gotten the diagram but i don’t know the value of the components that i will use please help me on that. it’s samuel
Aditya Raj Chopra says
Very good and easy description…….
but understanding the capacitor, IC and transister were a bit difficult
Joonho says
Really helped me
Cameron says
I thought it was a really great piece of info, but you need to be more specific.
EL_ELECTRONICS says
This is a great blog site for electronics hoviets, about the components used under the basics electronics and electronics sector, have been explained in detail in detail in this blag series, which is quite beneficial for those interested in electronics. Thanks
SONNY says
The way you explain flees my fears about electronics and inspires my passion to learn even more until I overflow with knowledge to share with technological knowledge based LOVE . . . . . . . .
flavian says
expecting the best
Rajesh Ulpama says
thank you for this informative post..also if you can link back to your article which can tell us about rectifiers and how can we use them.
Kamau says
good overview of basic electronics components such as capacitors, transistors, Leds and resistors.
Robert HOMAI says
very helpful
shafique says
thank you sir
hassen says
I want to learn more about problems of electronics
aaron says
goood, the leature help
aaron says
i also need more guid on circuit buiding
Curie Gupta says
Such an interactive tutorial. Thank you so much for putting in your thoughts. I am sure it will help many. Great work :)
Kim says
Excellent overview of basic electronics components such as capacitors, transistors, Leds and resistors.
Kathryn Reed says
I’m a US Navy Veteran aircraft electrician with an Associates degree in Electronics Technology. I worked with high frequency electronics in the defense industry until I became disabled with Lupus.
With all that experience, I must say your descriptions and methods of teaching are the best I’ve ever seen. Ohmify will help me teach some really cool stuff to my grandkids. Thank you!
admin says
Wow, thanks a lot for those kind words Kathryn. I really appreciate it.
Oyvind
Taofeek Iklas says
I love your method of teaching because ohmify use simple English sentence. Thank so much.
BSRB says
So I got into circuits because I was wanting to make more advanced Energy Constructs and “functional sigils” for Magick. funny how many of these symbols go back to Norse Galdrstafr and carry similar meanings, for instance the symbol for antennae and aerial antennae are the same as in bindrunes, and is for sending and receiving information/energy, capacitors have same symbols, also the symbol for allowing energy to pass but not back flow are all the same… so I have come to the conclusion that the 1st Master Electrician was also a Master Magickian.