Electronic Components

Learn about electronic components in our online tutorials: resistors, capacitors,

inductors, transistors, integrated circuit . . . and even vacuum tubes / thermionic
valves.

There are many components that can be used in electronic and radio circuits. For each type there
are variants and these may enable them to be used in different ways.

Passive components
Learn about electronics online with our tutorials about passive components: resistors, capacitors,
inducators, crystals and many more. Electronic components like resistors, capacitors and many
others may seem low-tech by the stadnards of other compoennts, but their technologies have
developed over the years to provide improved performance and reliability.

 Resistors
 Photoresistor / LDR

 Capacitors
 Inductors
 Quartz crystals, xtals

Diodes
Oner major type of electronic component is the diode. Semiconductors diodes are particaulry
important electronic components because there are many differnet varieties which perform in
slightly different ways. Selecting the right diode is essential to ensure that the electronic circuit
operates in the manner expected.

 Diode types
 PN junction diode
 Gunn diode
 IMPATT microwave diode
 Laser diode
 Light emitting diode or LED
 Photo diode
 PIN diode

 Schottky barrier diode

 Step recovery diode
 Tunnel diode
 Varactor or varicap diode
  Zener diode

Active devices: transistor, FET, Vacuum tube / valve,

thyristor . .
Although passive electronic components form a huge sector of the electronic components
industry, active devices occupy the higher value area. These electronic components enable much
of the functionality of the circuits to be attained.

 How a transistor works

 FET Field Effect Transistor
 Phototransistor

 Thermionic valve / vacuum tube

 What is a thyristor
 What is a triac

Semiconductor memory
Semiconnductor memory is an importnt class of electronic component. Semiconductor memory
is used in vast quantities for computer and digital storage of all forms. This type of electronic
component is key for the computer industry.

 Memory types & technologies

 DRAM
 EEPROM
 Flash

 FRAM
 MRAM, magnetoresistive RAM
 Phase change memory, PRAM
 SDRAM
 SRAM, static RAM