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ELECTRONICS CKTS SYMBOLS

In electronic circuits, there are many electronic symbols that are used to represent or identify a

basic electronic or electrical device. They are mostly used to draw a circuit diagram and are

standardized internationally by the IEEE standard (IEEE Std 315) and the British Standard (BS

3939). NO changes can be brought by the user on any electronic symbol, but the user is free to

bring any changes in the architectural drawings like power source and lighting.

Electronic Symbols

The symbols for different electronic devices are shown below. Click on each link given below to

view the symbols. Apart from the circuit symbols, each device is also designated a short name.

Though these names are not approved as standard notations, they are commonly used by most

people. These designations are also given in the list.

Wires | Power Supplies | Resistor | Capacitor |Diode | Transistor | Logic Gates | Meters |

Sensors | Switches | Audio and Radio Devices | Output Devices

Wires

Electronic

Component

Circuit Symbol Description

Wire

Wire Circuit Symbol

Used to connect one component to another.

Wires Joined

Wires Joined Circuit Symbol

One device may be connected to another

through wires. This is represented by drawing

“blobs” on the point where they are shorted.

Unjoined

Wires

Wires Not Joined Circuit

Symbol

When circuits are drawn some wires may not

touch others. This can only be shown by

bridging them or by drawing them without

blobs. But bridging is commonly practised as

there will not arise any confusion.

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Power Supplies

Electronic

Component

Circuit Symbol Description

Cell

Cell Circuit Symbol

Used to provide a supply for a circuit.

Battery

Battery Circuit Symbol

A battery has more than a cell and is used for

the same purpose. The smaller terminal is

negative and the larger one is positive.

Abbreviated as ‘B’.

DC Supply

DC Supply Circuit Symbol

Used as a DC power supply, that is, the current

will always flow in one direction.

AC Supply

AC Supply Circuit Symbol

Used as AC power supply, that is, the current

will keep alternating directions.

Fuse

Fuse Circuit Symbol

Used in circuits where a probability of

excessive current flows. The fuse will break the

circuit if excessive current flows and saves the

other devices from damage.

Transformer

Transformer Circuit Symbol

Used as an ac power supply. Consists of two

coils, the primary and secondary that are linked

together through an iron core. There is no

physical connection between the two coils. The

principle of mutual inductance is used to obtain

power. Abbreviated as ‘T’.

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Earth/Ground

Earth Circuit Symbol

Used in electronic circuits to represent the 0

volts of the power supply. It can also be defined

as the real earth , when it is applied in radio

circuits and power circuits.

Resistor

Electronic

Component

Circuit Symbol Description

Resistor

Resistor Circuit Symbol

A resistor is used to restrict the amount of

current flow through a device. Abbreviated as

‘R’.

Rheostat

Rheostat Circuit Symbol

A rheostat is used to control the current flow

with two contacts. Applicable in controlling

lamp brightness, capacitor charge rate, etc.

Potentiometer

Potentiometer Circuit Symbol

A potentiometer is used to control the voltage

flow and has three contacts. Have applications

in changing a mechanical angle change to an

electrical parameter. Abbreviated as ‘POT’.

Preset

Preset Circuit Symbol

Presets are low cost variable resistors that are

used to control the charge flow with the help of

a screw driver. Applications where the

resistance is determined only at the end of the

circuit design.

Capacitor

Electronic

Component

Circuit Symbol Description

Capacitor

Capacitor Circuit Symbol

Capacitor is a device that is used to store

electrical energy. It consists of two metals

plates that are separated by a dielectric. It is

applicable as a filter, that is, to block DC

signals and allow AC signals. Abbreviated with

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the letter ‘C’.

Capacitor -

Polarized

Capacitor-Polarised Circuit

Symbol

Capacitor can be used in a timer circuit by

adding a resistor.

Variable

Capacitor

Variable Capacitor Circuit

Symbol

Used to vary the capacitance by turning the

knob. A type of variable capacitor is the

trimmer capacitor that is small in size. The

notations are all the same.

Diode

Electronic

Component

Circuit Symbol Description

Diode

Diode Circuit Symbol

A diode is used to allow electric current to

flow in only one direction. Abbreviated as

‘D’.

Light Emitting

Diode (LED)

LED Circuit Symbol

LED is used to emit light when a current is

passed through the device. It is abbreviated

as LED.

Zener Diode

Zener Diode Circuit Symbol

After a breakdown voltage, the device allows

current to flow in the reverse direction as

well. It is abbreviated as ‘Z’.

Photo Diode

Photo Diode Circuit Symbol

Photodiode works as a photo-detector and

converts light into its corresponding voltage

or current.

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Tunnel Diode

Tunnel Diode Circuit Symbol

Tunnel Diode is known for its high-speed

operation due to its application in quantum

mechanical effects.

Schottky Diode

Schottky Diode Circuit

Symbol

The Schottky Diode is known for its large

forward voltage drop and hence has great

applications in switching circuits.

Transistor

Electronic

Component

Circuit Symbol Description

NPN

Transistor

Transistor NPN Circuit Symbol

This is a transistor with a layer of P-doped

semiconductor fixed between two layers of

N-doped semiconductors that act as the

emitter and collector. Abbreviated as ‘Q’.

PNP Transistor

Transistor PNP Circuit Symbol

This is a transistor with a layer of N-doped

semiconductor fixed between two layers of

P-doped semiconductors that act as the

emitter and collector. Abbreviated as ‘Q’.

Phototransistor

Phototransistor Circuit Symbol

The working of a phototransistoris

similar to that of a bipolar transistor with a

difference that it converts light into its

corresponding current. The phototransistor

can also act as a photodiode if the emitter

is not connected.

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Field Effect

Transistor

Field Effect Transistor Circuit

Symbol

Like a transistor, a FET has three

terminals, the Gate, Source and Drain. The

device has an electric field that controls the

conductivity of a channel of one type

charge carrier in a semiconductor

substance.

N-Channel

Junction FET

n-channel Junction Field Effect

Transistor (JFET) Circuit

Symbol

The Junction Field Effect Transistor

(JFET) is the simplest type of FET with

applications in Switching and voltage

variable resistor. In an N-channel JFET an

N-type silicon bar has two smaller pieces

of P-type silicon material diffused on each

sides of its middle part, forming P-N

junctions.

P-Channel

Junction FET

p-channel Junction Field Effect

Transistor (FET) Circuit Symbol

P-channel JFET is similar in construction

to N-channel JFET except that P-type

semiconductor base is sandwiched between

two N-type junctions. In this case majority

carriers are holes.

Metal Oxide

Semiconductor

FET

Given Below Abbreviated as MOSFET. MOSFET is a

three terminal device and is controlled by a

gate bias. It is known for its low

capacitance and low input impedance.

Enhancement

MOSFET

e-MOSFET Circuit Symbol

The enhancement MOSFET structure has

no channel formed during its construction.

Voltage is applied to the gate, so as to

develop a channel of charge carriers so that

a current results when a voltage is applied

across the drain-source terminals.

Abbreviated as e-MOSFET.

Depletion

MOSFET

In the depletion-mode construction a

channel is physically constructed and a

current between drain and source is due to

voltage applied across the drain-source

terminals. Abbreviated as d-MOSFET.

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d-MOSFET Circuit Symbol

Logic Gates

Gate Standard Symbol IEC Symbol Description

AND

Gate

AND GATE Symbol

AND Gate IEC Symbol

If all the inputs of an

AND gate are HIGH,

then the output will

also be HIGH. If any

one of them is LOW,

the output will also be

LOW.

NAND

Gate

NAND Gate Symbol

NAND Gate IEC Symbol

Short form for NOT

AND Gate. Of all the

inputs are HIGH, the

output will be LOW. If

any one input is LOW,

the output will be

HIGH.

OR

Gate

OR Gate Symbol

OR Gate IEC Symbol

If any one of the input

is HIGH, the output

will also be HIGH. If

both inputs are LOW,

the output will also be

LOW.

NOR

Gate

NOR Gate Symbol

NOR Gate IEC Symbol

Short form for NOT

OR. If both inputs are

LOW, the output will

also be LOW. For other

cases, the output will

be HIGH.

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EX-

OR

Gate

EX-OR Gate Symbol

EX-OR Gate IEC Symbol

Short form for

Exclusive NOR. If both

inputs are either in

LOW state r HIGH

state, the output will be

LOW. If both inputs

are different, the output

will be HIGH.

EX-

NOR

Gate

EX-NOR Gate Symbol

EX-NOR Gate IEC Symbol

Short form for

Exclusive NOT OR. If

both the inputs are the

same, the output will be

HIGH. If both are

different, the output

will also be different.

NOT

Gate

NOT Gate Symbol

NOT Gate Symbol

Also known as the

inverter Gate. There is

only one input for this

gate. If the input is

HIGH, the output will

be LOW. If the input is

LOW, the output will

be HIGH.

Meters

Electronic

Component

Circuit Symbol Description

Voltmeter

Voltmeter Circuit Symbol

Voltmeter is used to measure the voltage at a

certain point in the circuit.

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Ammeter

Ammeter Circuit Symbol

An Ammeter is used to measure the current

that passes through the circuit at a particular

point.

Galvanometer

Galvanometer Circuit

Symbol

A galvanometer is used to measure very

small currents in the order of 1 milli ampere

or less.

Ohmmeter

Ohmmeter Circuit Symbol

Resistance of the circuit is measured using an

Ohmmeter.

Oscilloscope

Oscilloscope Circuit Symbol

An oscilloscope is used to measure the

voltage and time period of signals along with

their shape display.

Sensors

Electronic

Component

Circuit Symbol Description

Light

Dependent

Resistor (LDR)

LDR Circuit Symbol

It is abbreviated as LDR. Light Dependent

Resistor is used to convert light into its

corresponding resistance. Instead of directly

measuring the light, it senses the heat content

and converts it onto resistance.

Thermistor

Instead of directly measuring the light, a

thermistor senses the heat content and converts

it into resistance. Abbreviated as ‘TH’.

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Thermistor Circuit Symbol

Switches

Electronic

Component

Circuit Symbol Description

Push Switch

Push Switch Circuit Symbol

This is an ordinary switch that passes current

only upon pressing.

Push to Break

Switch

Push to Break Switch Circuit

Symbol

The push to break switch is usually kept in

the ON state (closed). It turns to OFF state

(open) only when the switch is pressed.

Singe Pole

Single Throw

Switch

On Off Switch (SPST) Circuit

Symbol

Also known as the ON/OFF switch. This

switch allows the flow of current only when

it is kept ON. Abbreviated as SPST.

Single Pole

Double Throw

Switch

2-Way Switch (SPDT) Circuit

Symbol

Also known as the 2-way switch. It can be

also called as an ON/OFF/ON switch as it

has an OFF position in the center. The switch

causes the flow of current in two directions,

depending on its position. It can be

abbreviated as SPDT.

Double Pole

Single Throw

Switch

Dual On-Off Switch (DPST)

Circuit Symbol

Abbreviated as DPST. Can also be called as

a dual ON-OFF switch. This is used to

isolate between the live and neutral

connections in the main electrical line.

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Double Pole

Double Throw

Switch

DPDT Circuit Symbol

Abbreviated as DPDT. The switch uses a

central OFF position and is applied as

reversing switch for motors.

Relay

Relay Circuit Symbol

Relay is abbreviated as ‘RY’. This device

can easily switch a 230 Volt AC mains

circuit. It has three switching stages called

Normally Open (NO). Normally Closed

(NC), and Common (COM).

Audio and Radio Devices

Electronic

Component

Circuit Symbol Description

Microphone

Microphone Circuit Symbol

This device is used for converting sound to its

corresponding electrical energy. Abbreviated

as ‘MIC’.

Earphone

Earphone Circuit Symbol

Does the reverse process of microphone and

converts electrical energy into sound.

Loudspeaker

Loudspeaker Circuit Symbol

Does the same operation as an earphone, but

converts an amplified version of the electrical

energy into its corresponding sound.

Piezo-

Transducer

It is a transducer that converts electrical

energy into sound.

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PiezoTransducer Circuit

Symbol

Amplifier

Amplifier Circuit Symbol

Used to amplify a signal. It is mainly used to

represent a whole circuit rather than just one

component.

Aerial

Aerial Circuit Symbol

This device is used to transmit/receive signals.

Abbreviated as ‘AE’.

Output Devices

Electronic

Component

Circuit Symbol Description

Lighting

Lamp

Lamp Circuit Symbol

This is used to provide light for the output.

Indicator

Lamp

Lamp Indiator Circuit

Symbol

Used to convert electrical energy into light. The

best example is the warning light on a car

dashboard.

Heater

Heater Circuit Symbol

This transducer is used to change electrical

energy into heat.

Inductor

Inductor Circuit Symbol

Inductor is used to produce a magnetic field

when a certain current is passed through a coil

of wire. The wire is coiled on a soft iron core.

Have applications in motors, and tank circuits.

Abbreviated as ‘L’.

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Motor

Motor Circuit Symbol

This device is used to convert electrical energy

into mechanical energy. Can be used as a

generator as well. Abbreviated as ‘M’.

Bell

Bell Circuit Symbol

Used to produce a sound as the output,

according to the electrical energy produced as

the input.

Buzzer

Buzzer Circuit Symbol

It is used to produce an output sound

corresponding to the electrical energy in the

input.

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