Circuit

Components Function
symbol

The very basic version of the wire, allowing the

Wires
current to pass from one component to another.

The wires can be connected, and the connection

can be defined as ‘joined wires.’ The joining
Joined wires points of the wires are called ‘blob.’ The blob
might sometimes be omitted in some circuit
designs.

In complex diagrams, it is often necessary to draw

Disjointed wires crossing even though they aren’t connected.
wires In this case, bridging is commonly utilized – as
pictured in the circuit symbol.

The input bus line represents a bus for input or

Input bus line
incoming data.

The output bus line represents a bus for output or

Output bus line
outgoing data.

Terminal The terminal represents the start or endpoint.

The bus line represents several conductors joined

Bus line
together to form a bus wire.
Components Circuit symbol Function

The push switch allows the current to flow only

Push switch when the button is pushed. Thus, the function
mimics the operation of a doorbell.

Push-to-break Normally, the push-to-break switch is closed (on);

switch it will open (off) when the button is pushed.

SPST means Single Pole, Single Throw. The on-

On-off switch off switch will allow you to ensure that the
(SPST) current flows only when it is in the closed
position.

SPDT means Single Pole, Double Throw. It is a

2-way switch
2-way changeover switch that allows conducting
(SPDT)
the flow of current to one of two routes.

DPST means Double Pole, Single Throw. It is a

Dual on-off dual on-off switch, and it can isolate both the live
switch (DPST) and neutral connections. Mainly used for
electrical lines.

DPDT means Double Pole, Double Throw. It can

Reversing
be rewired up as a reversing switch, which is
switch (DPDT)
helpful in a motor.

Usually found hidden in devices, it is a simple

Relay electrically operated switch. They are made with
an electromagnet and a set of contacts.

Components Circuit symbol Function

 The cell is defined to supply electrical energy.
Cell The positive (+) one is the more significant
terminal on the left.

The battery is defined as the collection of more

Battery than one cell to supplying electrical energy. The
positive (+) one is the bigger terminal on the left.

DC means Direct Current, which denotes

DC supply constantly flowing in one direction. It supplies
electrical energy.

AC means Alternating Current, which denotes

AC supply current continually changing directions. It
supplies electrical energy.

Constant The symbol showcases an independent current

Current Source source that delivers constant current.

This symbol showcases a dependent current

Controlled
source. It usually depends on other sources
Current Source
(voltage or current).

This symbol showcases a dependent voltage

Controlled
source. It usually depends on other sources
Voltage Source
(voltage or current).
 Fuse functions as a safety device that either blows
Fuse or melts if the current flowing through it exceeds
a specific value.

The transformer is two coils of wire connected to

an iron core. They can be used to increase or
decrease AC voltage. While there is no
Transformer
connection between the coils, the magnetic field
in between the coils allows the energy to be
transferred between them.

The symbol denotes a connection to the earth.

Also known as the ‘ground.’ For electrical
Earth
circuits, this defines 0V (zero volts) of the power
supply.

Signal ground defines a reference point from

which the signal is measured. Due to the voltage
Signal ground
drops in a circuit, there may be several signal
grounds in a circuit

The chassis ground acts as a barrier between the

Chassis
user and the circuit. It also prevents electric
Ground
shock.

Components Circuit symbol Function

Resistor A resistor stops or obstructs the flow of current.

A rheostat is a type of variable resistor usually

Rheostat used to control current. Examples: lamp
brightness adjuster, motor speed adjuster.
 A potentiometer is a type of variable resistor with
Potentiometer
three contacts. It is used to control voltage.

A preset is a type of variable resistor. It is

operated with a tool similar to a small screwdriver
and designed to be set at the time of the creation
Preset of the circuit. Presets are usually left without
further adjustments and used to reduce project
costs. That’s because Presets are cheaper than
variable resistors.

The varistor is short for a Voltage Dependent

Resistor. Its characters align with non-linear
Varistor
current-voltage. They are generally used in circuit
protection from voltage surges.

Also known as Magnetic Dependent Resistors

Magneto
(MDR). Their resistance varies according to the
Resistor
external magnetic field strength.

The tapped resistor is a wire-wound type fixed

resistor with one or more terminals along its
Tapped resistor
length. They are generally used in voltage divider
applications.

To lower the power of a signal, attenuators are

heavily favoured. As they are made from simple
Attenuator
voltage dividers, they are usually defined within
the family of resistors.

Memristor’s resistance changes according to the

Memristor
direction of flow of charge.
 Circuit
Components Function
symbol

As mentioned above, it is used to store energy in

Capacitor
electrical form.

Polarised A type of capacitor that stores electrical energy

capacitor that must be a one-way round.

Variable A type of capacitor is used to control the level of

capacitor the capacity by adjusting the Knob.

Trimmer A type of capacitor is used to control the capacity

capacitor level by using a screwdriver or similar tools.

6. Circuit Symbols and Names for Diodes:

The diode contains two terminals, defined to be anode and cathode. The diode is controlling the

electron current flow from cathode to anode. Functionally, the diode has low resistance in one

direction and high resistance in another direction. They are classified into various types that are

discussed below.

Components Circuit symbol Function

The component that allows current

Diode
to flow in one direction only.
Light Emitting A type of diode that converts
Diode electrical energy to light.

A type of diode that is used to

Zener Diode conserve a secure voltage across its
terminals.

A type of diode that converts light

Photo Diode
into respective current or voltage.

A type of diode used for very high-

Tunnel Diode
speed operations.

A type of diode used for

Schottky Diode
forwarding low voltage drop.

A type of diode that can change the

level of the capacitance according
Varactor Diode
to the input voltage applied. Also
known as ‘Varicap’.

A type of diode that has a fast

Shockley Diode switching operation and hence is
used in switching applications.
 A type of diode that acts as
bistable switches and is used in
Thyristor
circuits where high voltages and
currents are involved.

A type of diode that limits the

current to a specified maximum
Constant
value. Also known as Current
Current Diode
Limiting Diode or Current
Regulating Diode.

A type of diode that is similar to

Laser Diode LED. Its applications are found in
laser printing, laser scanning, etc.

Components Circuit symbol Function

A type of transistor where a P-type

doped semiconductor material is
NPN transistor
placed in between two N-type
semiconductor materials.

A type of transistor where an N-

type doped semiconductor material
PNP transistor
is placed in between two P-type
semiconductor materials.

A type of transistor that converts

Phototransistor
light to current.

A type of transistor that controls

Field Effect
the conductivity with the help of
Transistor
an electric field.
 JFET means Junction Field Effect
N-channel JFET Transistors are simple of FET for
switching

JFET means Junction Field Effect

Transistors where a P-type
P-channel JFET
semiconductor is placed in
between N-type junctions.

MOSFET means metal–oxide–

semiconductor field-effect
Enhancement
transistor. Similar to MOSFET but
MOSFET
it does not contain a conducting
channel.

In depletion MOSFET, the current

Depletion
flows from source to drain
MOSFET
terminal.

This transistor is similar to a photo

Photo
transistor, but its core feature is
Darlington
very high gain and sensitive.

Components Circuit symbol Function

A type of meter that is used to

Voltmeter
measure voltage.
 A type of meter that is used to
Ammeter
measure current.

A type of sensitive meter that is

Galvanometer used to measure tiny currents,
usually 1mA or less.

A type of meter is used to measure

Ohmmeter
resistance.

A type of meter is used to display

the shape of electrical signals.
Oscilloscope
Also, it can be used to measure
their voltage and time period.

omponents Circuit symbol Function

A type of audio device that

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

A type of audio device that

Earphone converts an electrical signal to a
sound signal.

A type of audio device that

converts the electrical signal to
Loudspeaker
sound signal, but it will amplify
the version.
 A type of audio device that
Piezo-
converts the flow of electrical
transducer
energy to a sound signal.

A type of audio device that

Bell converts the electrical signal to a
sound signal.

A type of audio device that

Buzzer converts an electrical signal to a
sound signal.

mponents Circuit symbol Function

LDR means Light Dependent

Resistor. It is a type of sensor
LDR
which converts light to resistance,
an electrical property.

The thermistor is a type of sensor

which converts temperature (heat)
Thermistor
to resistance, an electrical
property.

Components Circuit symbol Function

Sinusoidal The sinusoidal generator represents

generator a sine wave generator.

The pulse generator represents a

Pulse generator
pulse or square wave generator.
 The triangular wave represents a
Triangular wave
triangular wave generator.

omponents Circuit symbol Function

The iron core has an air gap

Iron Core integrated with it. This allows for a
Inductor lower permeability than ferrite
core inductors.

Ferrite core inductors have ferrite

core material as their key
Ferrite Core
ingredient. These inductors are
Inductors
used to suppress the interference of
electromagnetic waves.

Center Tapped Center tapped inductors are used in

Inductors the coupling of signals.

The variable inductors can vary the

Variable
induction level by sliding the core
Inductors
in or out of the coil.

13. Circuit Symbols and Names for Amplifiers:

An amplifier is a device that takes a small input signal and can increase the power or amplify the

signal. They are classified into various types that are discussed below.

Circuit
Components Function
symbol
 As mentioned above, the basic amplifier can
Basic Amplifier amplify a relatively small input signal, i.e., it
increases the power of the signal.

The operational amplifier is similar to the basic

Operational
amplifier but with a high gain. The input is
Amplifier
differential here.

Components Circuit symbol Function

The definition of the antenna is available above.

Antenna
The symbol depicts an Aerial or Antenna.

As its name suggests, the loop antenna contains a

loop-like shape of wire or other electrical
Loop Antenna
conductors. They are particularly useful in
receiving signals in the low-frequency range.

One of the most widely used antennas. It is

Dipole Antenna primarily applicable for set-top boxes, FM radio,
and shortwave transmissions.

Components Circuit symbol Function

For the NOT gate, The output is the complement

NOT gate
of the input.

For the AND gate, the output value is HIGH

AND gate
when two inputs are HIGH.
 The NAND gate is a complement of the AND
NAND gate
gate.

For the OR gate, the output value is HIGH when

OR gate
one of the inputs is HIGH.

NOR gate OR gate is a complement of the NOR gate.

For the EX-OR gate, the output is HIGH when an

EX-OR gate
odd number of HIGH occurs in its inputs.

For the EX-NOR gate, the output is HIGH when

EX-NOR gate
an even number of HIGH occurs in its inputs.

Components Circuit symbol Function

Functions to produce a buzzing sound when the

Buzzer
voltage is applied.

Functions to emit a sound signal which got

Loud Speaker
converted from an electrical signal.
 Functions by emitting light when required
Light Bulb
voltage is applied.

Functions by converting the electric energy to

Motor
mechanical energy.

Functions as a protection for the circuit against

Fuse
the over-flowing current.

Crystal Functions by generating clock signals of precise

Oscillator frequency.

ADC means Analogue to Digital converter. It

ADC functions by converting analogue signals to
digital values.

DAC means Digital to Analogue converter. It

DAC functions by converting digital codes to analogue
signals.

Thermocouple Functions as a device to measure temperature.