Maker Projects Glossary

A package type is the physical form factor and housing style of an electronic component, such as an integrated circuit, resistor, or capacitor. It def...

A packet is a formatted unit of data transmitted over a network or communication channel. It contains both the actual data payload and control informa...

A pad is a designated copper area on a printed circuit board (PCB) where electronic components are soldered or connected. Pads provide electrical cont...

A parallel circuit is an electrical circuit where components are connected alongside each other, creating multiple paths for current to flow. In this ...

A perfboard (or protoboard) is a pre-drilled circuit board with a regular grid of holes used for prototyping electronic circuits. It allows components...

A pH sensor is an electronic device that measures the acidity or alkalinity of a solution by detecting hydrogen ion concentration. It typically consis...

A Phoenix connector is a type of screw terminal block connector commonly used in industrial and automation applications for secure wire connections. I...

A photoresistor (LDR - Light Dependent Resistor) is a passive electronic component whose resistance changes inversely with the amount of light falling...

A pin header is a rectangular connector consisting of a row or grid of metal pins protruding from a plastic base, commonly used to create removable co...

Pin mapping is the process of defining and documenting which physical pins on a microcontroller, development board, or integrated circuit correspond t...

A pinout is a diagram or specification that shows the arrangement and function of each pin or connection point on an electronic component, connector, ...

A PIR sensor is a motion detection device that uses infrared radiation to detect changes in heat signatures within its field of view. It works by meas...

Pitch is the center-to-center distance between adjacent pins, leads, or components in electronic circuits and PCB layouts. It is typically measured in...

A Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) is a property of materials where electrical resistance increases as temperature rises. PTC thermistors and de...

A potentiometer is a three-terminal variable resistor that allows manual adjustment of resistance values by turning a knob or sliding a control. It co...

A power rating is the maximum amount of electrical power that a component or device can safely handle without damage or failure. It specifies the cont...

A power supply is an electronic device that converts electrical energy from one form to another to provide the correct voltage, current, and frequency...

A pressure sensor is an electronic device that detects and measures the force per unit area applied by gases or liquids and converts this physical pre...

A Printed Circuit Board (PCB) is a flat board made of insulating material with conductive copper traces etched or printed onto its surface to create e...

A programmer is a hardware device used to write data, firmware, or configuration settings into programmable electronic components such as microcontrol...

A proximity sensor is an electronic device that detects the presence or absence of nearby objects without physical contact. It works by emitting elect...

A pull-down resistor is a resistor connected between a digital input pin and ground (0V) to ensure the pin reads a logic LOW state when no other signa...

A pull-up resistor is a resistor connected between a digital input pin and a positive voltage supply (typically VCC or 3.3V/5V) to establish a default...

Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) is a digital technique that controls the average power delivered to a load by rapidly switching a signal on and off at a ...