Electronic Circuit Symbols

In electronic circuits, there are many electronic symbols that are used to represent or
identify a basic electronic or electrical device. They are mostly used to draw a circuit
diagram and are standardized internationally by the IEEE standard (IEEE Std 315) and
the British Standard (BS 3939). NO changes can be brought by the user
on any electronic symbol, but the user is free to bring any changes in the architectural
drawings like power source and lighting.

Electronic Symbols

The symbols for different electronic devices are shown below. Click on each link given
below to view the symbols. Apart from the circuit symbols, each device is also
designated a short name. Though these names are not approved as standard notations,
they are commonly used by most people. These designations are also given in the list.

Wires | Power Supplies | Resistor | Capacitor |Diode | Transistor | Logic
Gates | Meters | Sensors | Switches | Audio and Radio Devices | Output Devices

Wire Symbols

Electronic Circuit Symbol Description

Compone
nt

Used to connect one component

Wire
to another.
Wire Circuit Symbol

Wires One device may be connected to

Joined another through wires. This is
represented by drawing “blobs”
on the point where they are
Wires Joined Circuit Symbol shorted.
 Unjoined When circuits are drawn some
Wires wires may not touch others. This
can only be shown by bridging
them or by drawing them without
Wires Not Joined Circuit blobs. But bridging is commonly
Symbol practised as there will not arise
any confusion.

Power Supply Symbols

Electronic Circuit Symbol Description

Componen
t

Used to provide a supply for a

Cell
circuit.

Cell Circuit Symbol

Battery A battery has more than a cell

and is used for the same purpose.
The smaller terminal is negative
and the larger one is positive.
Battery Circuit Symbol Abbreviated as ‘B’.

DC Supply Used as a DC power supply, that

is, the current will always flow in
one direction.
DC Supply Circuit Symbol

AC Supply Used as AC power supply, that is,

the current will keep alternating
directions.
AC Supply Circuit Symbol
Fuse Used in circuits where a
probability of excessive current
flows. The fuse will break the
Fuse Circuit Symbol
circuit if excessive current flows
and saves the other devices from
damage.

Transforme Used as an ac power supply.

r Consists of two coils, the primary
and secondary that are linked
together through an iron core.
There is no physical connection
Transformer Circuit Symbol between the two coils. The
principle of mutual inductance is
used to obtain power.
Abbreviated as ‘T’.

Earth/Grou Used in electronic circuits to

nd represent the 0 volts of the power
supply. It can also be defined as
Earth Circuit Symbol
the real earth , when it is applied
in radio circuits and power
circuits.

Resistor Symbols

Electronic Circuit Symbol Description

Componen
t

A resistor is used to restrict the

Resistor
amount of current flow through a
device. Abbreviated as ‘R’.
Resistor Circuit Symbol

Rheostat A rheostat is used to control the

current flow with two contacts.
Applicable in controlling lamp
Rheostat Circuit Symbol
brightness, capacitor charge rate,
etc.
 Potentiomet A potentiometer is used to
er control the voltage flow and has
three contacts. Have applications
Potentiometer Circuit Symbol
in changing a mechanical angle
change to an electrical
parameter. Abbreviated as ‘POT’.

Preset Presets are low cost variable

resistors that are used to control
the charge flow with the help of a
Preset Circuit Symbol
screw driver. Applications where
the resistance is determined only
at the end of the circuit design.

Capacitor Symols

Electronic Circuit Symbol Description

Compone
nt

Capacitor is a device that is used

Capacitor
to store electrical energy. It
consists of two metals plates that
Capacitor Circuit Symbol
are separated by a dielectric. It is
applicable as a filter, that is, to
block DC signals and allow AC
signals. Abbreviated with the letter
‘C’.

Capacitor – Capacitor can be used in a timer

Polarized circuit by adding a resistor.
Capacitor-Polarised Circuit
Symbol

Variable Used to vary the capacitance by

Capacitor turning the knob. A type of
variable capacitor is the trimmer
Variable Capacitor Circuit
capacitor that is small in size. The
 Symbol notations are all the same.

Diode Symbols

Electronic Circuit Symbol Description

Component

A diode is used to allow electric

Diode
current to flow in only one
direction. Abbreviated as ‘D’.
Diode Circuit Symbol

Light LED is used to emit light when a

Emitting current is passed through the
Diode (LED) device. It is abbreviated as LED.
LED Circuit Symbol

Zener Diode After a breakdown voltage, the

device allows current to flow in
the reverse direction as well. It is
Zener Diode Circuit Symbol abbreviated as ‘Z’.

Photo Diode Photodiode works as a photo-

detector and converts light into
its corresponding voltage or
Photo Diode Circuit Symbol current.

Tunnel Tunnel Diode is known for its

Diode high-speed operation due to its
application in quantum
Tunnel Diode Circuit Symbol mechanical effects.

Schottky The Schottky Diode is known

Diode for its large forward voltage drop
and hence has great applications
Schottky Diode Circuit in switching circuits.
Symbol
Transistor Symbols

Electronic Circuit Symbol Description

Component

This is a transistor with a layer

NPN
of P-doped semiconductor fixed
Transistor
between two layers of N-doped
semiconductors that act as the
emitter and collector.
Transistor NPN Circuit Symbol Abbreviated as ‘Q’.

PNP This is a transistor with a layer

Transistor of N-doped semiconductor fixed
between two layers of P-doped
semiconductors that act as the
emitter and collector.
Transistor PNP Circuit Symbol Abbreviated as ‘Q’.

Phototransis The working of

tor a phototransistoris similar to
that of a bipolar transistor with
a difference that it converts
light into its corresponding
Phototransistor Circuit Symbol current. The phototransistor can
also act as a photodiode if the
emitter is not connected.

Field Effect Like a transistor, a FET has

Transistor three terminals, the Gate,
Source and Drain. The device
has an electric field that
Field Effect Transistor Circuit controls the conductivity of a
Symbol
channel of one type charge
carrier in a semiconductor
substance.

N-Channel The Junction Field Effect

Junction FET Transistor (JFET) is the
simplest type of FET with
applications in Switching and
 n-channel Junction Field Effect
Transistor (JFET) Circuit
Symbol
voltage variable resistor. In an
N-channel JFET an N-type silicon
bar has two smaller pieces of P-
type silicon material diffused on
each sides of its middle part,
forming P-N junctions.

P-Channel P-channel JFET is similar in

Junction FET construction to N-channel JFET
except that P-type
semiconductor base is
p-channel Junction Field Effect sandwiched between two N-
Transistor (FET) Circuit Symbol
type junctions. In this case
majority carriers are holes.

Metal Oxide Given Below Abbreviated as

Semiconduc MOSFET. MOSFET is a three
tor FET terminal device and is
controlled by a gate bias. It is
known for its low capacitance
and low input impedance.

Enhanceme The enhancement MOSFET

nt MOSFET structure has no channel
formed during its construction.
Voltage is applied to the gate,
so as to develop a channel of
charge carriers so that a
e-MOSFET Circuit Symbol
current results when a voltage
is applied across the drain-
source terminals. Abbreviated
as e-MOSFET.

Depletion In the depletion-mode

MOSFET construction a channel is
physically constructed and a
current between drain and
source is due to voltage applied
across the drain-source
d-MOSFET Circuit Symbol
terminals. Abbreviated as d-
MOSFET.

Logic Gate Symbols

Gate Standard Symbol IEC Symbol Description

If all the
AND
inputs of an
Gate
AND gate are
HIGH, then
the output
AND GATE Symbol AND Gate IEC Symbol will also be
HIGH. If any
one of them
is LOW, the
output will
also be LOW.

NAND Short form for

Gate NOT AND
Gate. Of all
the inputs are
HIGH, the
NAND Gate Symbol NAND Gate IEC Symbol output will be
LOW. If any
one input is
LOW, the
output will be
HIGH.

OR If any one of
Gate the input is
HIGH, the
output will
also be HIGH.
OR Gate Symbol OR Gate IEC Symbol If both inputs
are LOW, the
output will
also be LOW.

NOR Short form for

Gate NOT OR. If
both inputs
are LOW, the
output will
NOR Gate Symbol NOR Gate IEC Symbol also be LOW.
For other
 cases, the
output will be
HIGH.

EX- Short form for

OR Exclusive
Gate NOR. If both
inputs are
either in LOW
EX-OR Gate Symbol EX-OR Gate IEC Symbol state r HIGH
state, the
output will be
LOW. If both
inputs are
different, the
output will be
HIGH.

EX- Short form for

NOR Exclusive NOT
Gate OR. If both
the inputs are
the same, the
EX-NOR Gate Symbol EX-NOR Gate IEC Symbol output will be
HIGH. If both
are different,
the output
will also be
different.

NOT Also known as

Gate the inverter
Gate. There is
only one
input for this
NOT Gate Symbol NOT Gate Symbol gate. If the
input is HIGH,
the output
will be LOW. If
the input is
LOW, the
output will be
HIGH.
Meters

Electronic Circuit Symbol Description

Component

Voltmeter is used to measure

Voltmeter
the voltage at a certain point in
the circuit.

Voltmeter Circuit Symbol

Ammeter An Ammeter is used to measure

the current that passes through
the circuit at a particular point.

Ammeter Circuit Symbol

Galvanomet A galvanometer is used to

er measure very small currents in
the order of 1 milli ampere or
less.
Galvanometer Circuit Symbol

Ohmmeter Resistance of the circuit is

measured using an Ohmmeter.

Ohmmeter Circuit Symbol

Oscilloscope An oscilloscope is used to

measure the voltage and time
period of signals along with their
shape display.
Oscilloscope Circuit Symbol

Sensor Symbols
Electronic Circuit Symbol Description
Componen
t

It is abbreviated as LDR. Light
Light
Dependent Resistor is used to
Dependent
convert light into its
Resistor
corresponding resistance. Instead
(LDR)
LDR Circuit Symbol of directly measuring the light, it
senses the heat content and
converts it onto resistance.

Thermistor Instead of directly measuring the

light, a thermistor senses the
heat content and converts it into
Thermistor Circuit Symbol resistance. Abbreviated as ‘TH’.

Switch Symbols

Electronic Circuit Symbol Description

Componen
t

This is an ordinary switch that

Push Switch
passes current only upon
pressing.
Push Switch Circuit Symbol

Push to The push to break switch is

Break usually kept in the ON state
Switch (closed). It turns to OFF state
(open) only when the switch is
Push to Break Switch Circuit pressed.
Symbol
Singe Pole Also known as the ON/OFF
Single switch. This switch allows the
Throw flow of current only when it is
Switch kept ON. Abbreviated as SPST.
On Off Switch (SPST) Circuit
Symbol

Single Pole Also known as the 2-way switch.

Double It can be also called as an
Throw ON/OFF/ON switch as it has an
Switch OFF position in the center. The
2-Way Switch (SPDT) Circuit switch causes the flow of current
Symbol
in two directions, depending on
its position. It can be
abbreviated as SPDT.

Double Pole Abbreviated as DPST. Can also

Single be called as a dual ON-OFF
Throw switch. This is used to isolate
Switch between the live and neutral
Dual On-Off Switch (DPST) connections in the main
Circuit Symbol
electrical line.

Double Pole Abbreviated as DPDT. The switch

Double uses a central OFF position and
Throw is applied as reversing switch for
Switch motors.

DPDT Circuit Symbol

Relay Relay is abbreviated as ‘RY’.

This device can easily switch a
230 Volt AC mains circuit. It has
three switching stages called
Normally Open (NO). Normally
Relay Circuit Symbol Closed (NC), and Common
(COM).

Audio and Radio Device Symbols

Electronic Circuit Symbol Description

Componen
t

This device is used for converting

Microphone
sound to its corresponding
electrical energy. Abbreviated as
‘MIC’.
Microphone Circuit Symbol

Earphone Does the reverse process of

microphone and converts
electrical energy into sound.
Earphone Circuit Symbol

Loudspeake Does the same operation as an

r earphone, but converts an
amplified version of the electrical
energy into its corresponding
Loudspeaker Circuit Symbol sound.

Piezo- It is a transducer that converts

Transducer electrical energy into sound.

PiezoTransducer Circuit
Symbol

Amplifier Used to amplify a signal. It is

mainly used to represent a whole
circuit rather than just one
Amplifier Circuit Symbol component.

Aerial This device is used to

transmit/receive signals.
Abbreviated as ‘AE’.
Aerial Circuit Symbol

Output Devices
Electronic Circuit Symbol Description
Compone
nt

This is used to provide light for the

Lighting
output.
Lamp

Lamp Circuit Symbol

Indicator Used to convert electrical energy

Lamp into light. The best example is the
warning light on a car dashboard.
Lamp Indiator Circuit Symbol

Heater This transducer is used to change

electrical energy into heat.
Heater Circuit Symbol

Inductor Inductor is used to produce a

magnetic field when a certain
current is passed through a coil of
Inductor Circuit Symbol
wire. The wire is coiled on a soft
iron core. Have applications in
motors, and tank circuits.
Abbreviated as ‘L’.

Motor This device is used to convert

electrical energy into mechanical
energy. Can be used as a
generator as well. Abbreviated as
Motor Circuit Symbol ‘M’.

Bell Used to produce a sound as the

output, according to the electrical
energy produced as the input.
Bell Circuit Symbol
 Buzzer It is used to produce an output
sound corresponding to the
electrical energy in the input.
Buzzer Circuit Symbol

What are the Electronic Circuit

and Their Symbols?
 ELECTRONICS
4 COMMENTS

Electronics is a branch of an engineering, which deals with electronic and

electrical circuits like Integrated circuits, Transmitters, and Receiver etc. The
electronic circuit is defined as it is a combination of various electronic
components that allow the flow of electric current. The electronic
components consist of two or more terminals, that are used to connect one
component to another component to design a circuit diagram. The electronic
components are soldered on circuit boards to make a system. If you want to
focus on core side projects like electronics/ electrical, you should know the
basic concepts of electronic circuit symbols and their usage. This article gives
an overview of electronic circuit symbols with their functionality.
 Electronic Circuit
Symbols
Electronic Circuit Symbols

The electronic circuit symbols mainly involve wires, power supplies, resistors,
capacitors, diodes, transistors, meters, switches, sensors, logic gates, audio
devices, and other components.

Wires

A wire is a two terminal, single and flexible material, that allows the flow of
power through it. These are mainly used to connect the power supplies to the
PCB( Printed Circuit Board) and in between the components. The different
types of wires will be as
 Wires

Wires: A single wire with two terminals will pass the current from one
component to another.
Wires Jointed: When two or more wires are connected with each other that
is called as wires jointed. The joining or shorted of wires at one point is
indicates the “blob”.
Wires not Jointed: In complex circuit diagrams, some wires may not
connect with others, in this case, bridging is commonly utilized.
Power Supplies

A Power supply/ power supply unit is an electronic device, that supplies

electric energy to an electrical load. The flow of an electric current will be
measured in terms of Watts. The function of the power supply is, it converts
energy from one form to another according to our requirement. The various
types of power supplies are

Power Supplies
Cell Circuit: Supplies electrical energy from larger terminal (+) positive
sign.
Battery Circuit: A Battery is two or more cells , the function of battery
circuit is the same as cell circuit.
DC Circuit Symbol: Direct current (DC) always flows in one direction.
AC Circuit Symbol: AC (Alternating Current) flows periodically reverses
direction.
Fuse Circuit: The fuse will flow sufficient current and it is used to provide
overcurrent protection.
Transformer: It is used to produce AC power supply, energy is transferred
in between primary and secondary coils in the form of mutual inductance.
Solar cell: It will convert light energy into electrical energy.
Earth: It supplies the 0V to the circuit that will connect to the earth.
Voltage Source: It will supply voltage to the circuit elements.
Current Source: It will supply current to the circuit elements.
AC Voltage Source: It will supply the AC voltage to the circuit elements.
Controlled Voltage Source: It generates controlled voltage to the circuit
elements.
Controlled Current Source: It generates controlled current to the circuit
elements.
Resistors

A Resistor is a passive element that opposes current flow in a circuit. It is a

two-terminal element, dissipates its energy in the form of heat. The resistor
will damage due to the overflow of electric current through it. Resistance is
measured in units of ohms and resistance, resistor color code calculator is
used to calculate the value of the resistor according to its colors.
 Resistors

Resistor: It is a two terminal component, that restricts the flow of current.

Rheostat: It is a two terminal component, that is used to adjust the flow of
current.
Potentiometer: Potentiometer is a three-terminal component that will
adjust the voltage flow in the circuit.
Preset: Preset is a low-cost adjustable resistor that operates by using small
tools like Screwdrivers.
Capacitors

A Capacitor generally referred to as a condenser, it is a two-terminal passive

component that will capable of storing energy in the form of electricity. These
are the rechargeable batteries mainly used in power supply. In the capacitors,
electrical plates differ by a dielectric medium and these are acts like a filter
that allows only AC signals and blocks DC Signals. The capacitors are
classified into various types that are discussed below
 Capacitors

Capacitor: A capacitor is used to store the energy in electrical form.

Polarized Capacitor: Stores electrical energy these must be a one way
round.
Variable Capacitor: These capacitors are used to control the capacitance
by adjusting the Knob.
Trimmer Capacitor: These capacitors are used to control the capacitance
by using Screwdriver or similar tools.
Diodes

A Diode is an electronic component with two terminals that are anode and
cathode. It allows electron current flow from cathode to anode but it blocks
another direction. The diode will have low resistance in one direction and high
resistance in another direction. The diodes are classified into various
types that are discussed below
 Diodes

Diode: A diode allows the current flow in one direction.

Light Emitting Diode: It will emit the light when the electric current flows
through it.
Zener Diode: It will allow a constant electric current after the breakdown
voltage.
Photo Diode: Photodiode will convert light into respective current or
voltage.
Tunnel Diode: Tunnel diode is used for very high-speed operations.
Schottky Diode: Schottky diode is for forwarding low voltage drop.
Transistors

The transistors are invented in 1947 at Bell Laboratories to replace vacuum

tubes, that it will control the flow of current and voltage in the circuits. It is a
three terminal device and amplifies the current, transistors plays an important
role in all modern electronics.
 Transistors

NPN transistor: A P-type doped semiconductor material is placed in

between two N-type semiconductor materials. The terminals are the emitter,
base, and collector.
PNP transistor: A N-type doped semiconductor material is placed in
between two P-type semiconductor materials. The terminals are an emitter,
base, and collector.
Phototransistor: It is similar to bipolar transistors, but it converts light to
current.
Field Effect Transistor: FET controls the conductivity with the help of an
electric field.
N-channel JFET: The Junction Field Effect Transistors are simple of FET
for switching.
P-channel JFET: P-type semiconductor is placed in between N-type
junctions.
Enhancement MOSFET: Similar to DMOSFET but an absence of
conducting channel.
Depletion MOSFET: The current flows from source to drain terminal.
Meters

A Meter is an instrument used for measuring voltage and current flow in

electrical and electronic components. These are used to measure the
resistance and capacitance of the electronic components.

Meters

Voltmeter: It is used to measure voltage.

Ammeter: It is used to measure current.
Galvanometer: It is used to measure small currents.
Ohmmeter: It is used to measure the electrical resistance of a particular
resistor.
Oscilloscope: It is used to measure voltage with respect to time for signals.
Switches

A Switch is an electrical/electronic component that will connect electrical

circuits when the switch is closed, otherwise, it will break an electrical circuit
when the switch is open.
 Switches

Push switch: It will pass the current flow when the switch is pressed.
Push to break switch: It will block the current flow when the switch is
pressed.
Single pole single throw switch (SPST): Simply, it is an ON/OFF
switch allows flow only when the switch is in ON.
Single pole double throw switch (SPDT): In this type of switch
current flows in two directions.
Double pole single throw switch (DPST): It is a dual SPST switch,
mainly used for electrical lines.
Double pole double throw switch (DPDT): It is a dual SPDT switch.
Relay: A relay is a simple electromechanical switch made up of an
electromagnet & a set of contacts. These are found hidden in all sorts of
devices.
Audio Devices

These devices convert an electric signal into sound signals and vice versa,
which will be audible to humans. These are input/output electronic
components in the circuit diagram.

Audio Devices

Microphone: converts sound or noise signal to an electrical signal.

Earphone: converts an electrical signal to a sound signal.
Loudspeaker: converts the electrical signal to sound signal but it will
amplify version.
Piezo- transducer: converts flow of electrical energy to sound signal.
Bell converts the electrical signal to sound signal.
Buzzer: converts an electrical signal to sound signal.
Sensors

Sensors will sense or detect moving objects and devices, it will convert those
signals into electrical or optical. For example, a temperature sensor is used
sense temperature present in the room. The various types of sensors are
 Sensors

Light-dependent resistor: These sensors will sense light.

Thermistor: These sensors will sense heat or temperature.
Logic Gates

Logic gates are the main building blocks in the digital circuits, logic gates will
have two or three inputs and a single output. The output produced by logic
gates based on certain logic. Basic Logic gate values represent in binary if we
observe their truth tables.

Logic Gates

AND Gate: The output value is HIGH when two inputs are HIGH.
OR Gate: The output value is HIGH when one of the inputs is HIGH.
NOT Gate: The output is the complement of the input.
NAND Gate: The complement of the AND gate is a NAND gate.
NOR Gate: The complement of the OR gate is a NAND gate.
X-OR Gate: The output is HIGH when an odd number of HIGH occurs in its
inputs.
X-NOR Gate: The output is HIGH when an even number of HIGH occurs in
its inputs.
Other Components

These are the some of the electronic/electrical components that are utilized in
an electronic circuit or electrical circuit design.

Other Components

Lighting Lamp: It is a bulb that will glow when certain current flows.
Indicator Lamp: It will convert electricity to light.
Inductor: It will generate a magnetic field when current flows through it.
Antenna: It is used to transmit and Receive the radio signals.
Thus, this is all about electronic circuit symbols. Hope this article gives you a
brief information by reading the above article. Furthermore, any queries
regarding this article or electronics projects, please share your valuable
suggestions by commenting in the comment section below. Here is a question
for you, what are active and passive components?