An integrated circuit, sometimes known as a monolithic integrated circuit, is a set of

electrical circuits on a single compact flat piece (or "chip") of semiconductor material,
usually silicon. A compact chip has a large number of tiny MOSFETs (metal–oxide–
semiconductor field–effect transistors). As a result, circuits created with discrete electrical
components are orders of magnitude smaller, quicker, and less expensive. Because of
the IC's mass production capability, dependability, and building-block approach to
integrated circuit design, standardized ICs have quickly replaced discrete transistor
designs. ICs have transformed the world of electronics by being employed in practically
every electronic equipment. Computers, cellphones, and other digital household
appliances have become inextricably linked.