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Electronic Schematic Symbols

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To be able to read schematics you must know the schematic symbols. Here is an overview of the most used symbols in circuit diagrams.

Battery

The symbol for a battery is shown below.

A large and a small line is suppose to represent one battery cell so that the image below would suggest a two-cell battery of 3 V. But usually people just draw the battery symbol with one or two cells no matter what voltage it is.

Schematic Symbols Battery
The battery symbol

Capacitor

Capacitors are either polarized or not. The symbols that are used for the two are shown below. Both in European and US style.

A polarized capacitor is marked with a “+” sign. It is important to distinguish between these two because the polarized capacitor needs to be placed correctly according to the “+” sign.

Schematic Symbols Capacitor European Style
Standard capacitor (EU style)		 Schematic Symbols Polarized Capacitor European Style
Polarized capacitor (EU style)
Schematic Symbols Capacitor US Style
Standard capacitor (US style)		 Schematic Symbols Polarized Capacitor US Style
Polarized capacitor (US style)

Resistor

The schematic symbol of the resistor are drawn in two different ways. The american style resistor is drawn as a zigzag resistor while the european style resistor is drawn as a rectangular resistor.

Even though I’m from Europe, I like to draw the zigzag version. I think it is easier to draw and looks better.


American style resistor
European style resistor

Variable resistor (Potentiometer)

The variable resistor or potentiometer is drawn in several different ways. The symbol is often drawn as a resistor with an arrow across it or pointing down on it as the one below.


Variable resistor

Diode

The diode family has several different symbols because there are several different types of diodes. Below is a standard diode, a zener diode and a Light Emitting Diode (LED).


Standard diode
Zener diode

inductor
Light emitting diode (LED)

Schematic Symbols of a Transistor

The most common transistor types are the Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT) and the Field Effect Transistor (FET). The schematic symbols for these two types are shown below.

Schematic Symbol for BJT NPN transistor
Bipolar Junction Transistor (NPN)		 Schematic Symbol for FET transistor
Field Effect Transistor

Inductor

The inductor symbol looks like a coiled wire as this is what an inductor essentially is.


Inductor

Integrated Circuit

Integrated circuits (IC) are usually shown as rectangular boxes with pin names. Below, an example of the 555 timer IC is shown.


The “555 timer” integrated circuit

Logic Gates

Here are the schematic representation of the 6 logic gates.


Logic gates

Operational Amplifier

The operational amplifier or “Opamp” is represented as a triangle with two inputs and one output. In some cases, the power supply pins are also added. Below, a version without power supply pins are shown.


Operational amplifier

Switch

A switch can be represented in numerous ways in electronic schematics. Below is one example.


A simple switch

Transformer (Trafo)

The symbol of the transformer looks like two inductors with something in between them.


The transformer symbol

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Comments

  1. It would be nice to also include the european version of the logic gates.

    Also I prefer the european version of the resistor since a sloppy drawn zigzag might also be a coil.

    Reply

    • Good point. I’ve always found the european version of the resistor a bit boring. But I see your point about a sloppy drawn zigzag-resistor.

      Oyvind

      Reply

      • Yes that is a good point. I’m always critical of fine points like that, that a lot of people don’t think of.
        But I’m an OLD guy now (been around for a long time), and I’ve used the zigzag resister symbol all my life. My response then is if it’s sloppy and can look like a coil (which is true), just don’t be sloppy!
        Another thing: The European style symbol can look like an object on a computer flowchart, many of which I have also made. So I’m not crazy about it’s boxy look because I’m used to that being on flowcharts.

        Reply

    • What’s the usefulness of this comment?

      It’s basic electronics for people that don’t know it.

      If you’re so good, create your own website, and please, do it for the pros…

      And please do forget co the link.

      Bless! S.

      Reply

  9. God bless the developer of this site and the above writer-up . I have really gained a lot today. But , I will appreciate if u can write up how to configure the pins in an integrated circuit as well as what each term stands for? God bless you….

    Reply

  10. Thank you very much Oyvind :-)
    Can you please explain how to reverse engineer a schematic from a circuit board?

    Reply

  13. Please help. I’m new in this world…
    On schematic, resistor with % mark instead of resistance?
    What iz mean?
    Thanks

    Reply

  14. Thank you for your tutorials! Is it possible to have a printable link for some of your pages, like this one? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Hi,

      I don’t have any way of offering that at the moment, but you could try just the print option of your browser.

      Best,
      Oyvind

      Reply

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