Electronic circuit

An interconnected arrangement of electronic components that controls or processes electrical signals using devices such as transistors, diodes, and integrated circuits.

Resistor: A passive component that opposes electric current and converts electrical energy into heat. It sets current and voltage levels throughout many electronic circuits.
Circuit topology: The arrangement of components and connections that determines a circuit's possible current paths. Topology distinguishes circuits with the same parts but different electrical behavior.
Rectifier: A circuit that converts alternating current into unidirectional current. It uses diode behavior to turn an AC supply into usable DC.
Vacuum tube: An electronic device that controls current through a vacuum between electrodes. Vacuum tubes enabled early amplification and switching before transistors became practical.
Printed circuit board: An insulating board with conductive traces that mechanically supports and electrically connects components. It is a common physical platform for assembling circuits from separate components.
Capacitor: A component that stores energy in an electric field between conductive surfaces. Its changing charge lets circuits filter signals, store energy, and set timing.
Signal processing: The analysis and modification of signals to extract information or produce desired outputs. Electronic circuits implement signal operations in physical hardware.
Voltage regulator: A circuit that maintains a specified output voltage despite changes in input or load. It protects electronic systems from supply-voltage variation.
William Shockley: An American physicist who co-invented the transistor and led semiconductor research at Bell Labs. His work helped make compact solid-state circuits possible.
Application-specific integrated circuit: An integrated circuit designed for a particular product or narrowly defined task. It trades generality for efficiency compared with circuits built from programmable parts.

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Electric circuitBroader topic: Electronic circuits use connected paths to process and control signals.