What is MOSFET?
Last Updated : 23 Jul, 2025
In the world of electronics, you all must have heard the term
Transistor in your life at least once. But have you ever thought
about what are transistors? How do they work? What are the types
of transistors? So today you will get the answer to all such
questions. In this article, we will understand about the device
MOSFET and its characteristics. But before that let me clear the
term transistor.
So a transistor is a type of semiconductor device that is used to
maintain and regulate the voltage and current level. It has the
functions of a switch and an amplifier. You might be thinking about
what is the need to study transistors. This is because it is one of
the essential components in most of the electronic devices present
today. We cannot imagine this world of technology without
transistors.
MOSFET Basics
MOSFET is a very popular kind of IG-FET. The full form of MOSFET is
the Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor. The diagram
of MOSFET is given below.
In these kinds of devices, the gate terminal is separated from the
channel using the insulating layer. This insulating layer is formed
from the oxide layer of the semiconductor. The insulating layer of
MOSFET is formed from SiO 2.
What is MOSFET?
Now MOSFET is also classified into two types:-
1. Depletion type
2. Enhancement type
When we provide external voltage in the channel, it can either
increase or decrease the amount of charge carriers in the channel.
If the number of charge carriers increases, it is known as
enhancement type MOSFET. But if the number of charge carriers
decrease then it is known as depletion type MOSFET.
What is FET ?
Now one of those transistors is FET. The full form of FET is a Field
Effect Transistor. It is a three-terminal device that uses the
electric field to regulate and maintain the flow of current. The three
terminals are :
1. Gate
2. Drain
3. Source
Current flows between two terminals, drain and source. The flow of
current can be controlled by applying external voltage between
gate and source. This external voltage generates electric field in
device. So by controlling electric field and voltage, we can regulate
the flow of current. Thus it is a Voltage Controlled Device. It has
many applications such as Integrated circuits, oscillators and buffer
amplifiers. They are small in size and because of this they are used
in ICs.
Now there are two types of FET:-
1. JFET ( Junction Field Effect Transistor)
2. IG-FET (Insulated Gate Field Effect Transistor)
Important Terminologies
Transistor : It is a kind of semiconductor device which can
generate electric current or voltage on its own.
Gate Terminal : The current conduction between drain
and source is controlled by applying voltage in the gate
terminal.
Threshold voltage : Maximum amount of voltage required
for the formation of channel.
p-channel : Channel made with p-type semiconductor.
n-channel : Channel made with n-type semiconductor.
Saturation : Level in which something becomes constant.
MOSFET Types
Now these enhancement type and depletion type MOSFET is further
classified into p-channel and n-channel MOSFET.
Types of MOSFET
Working Principle of MOSFET
MOSFET is a type of transistor in which conductivity depends upon
the semiconductor channel across the drain and source terminal.
This semiconductor channel may be p-channel or n-channel
depending upon the configuration of the MOSFET.
A MOSFET consists of three terminals- drain, source and gate. By
applying some voltage across gate and source, there forms a
inversion layer or a channel between the drain and source if the
voltage applied is threshold voltage. (Threshold voltage is the
minimum required voltage for the conduction of current) . If the
applied voltage is less than the threshold voltage, no channel is
formed. Hence current cannot flow in the MOSFET. This situation is
called as Cutoff region (OFF).
And after a certain level of voltage, the current becomes constant
in the MOSFET. This condition is called as saturation point. MOSFET
is a voltage controlled device so the thickness of channel and the
amount of current depends upon the voltage applied across gate
and source. If more voltage applied, width of channel increases and
more amount of current able to flow through the device.
MOSFET Construction
MOSFET is a transistor which is used as switch or amplifier and in
many other applications. The basic construction of MOSFET can be
explained as below:-
Substrate : MOSFET is constructed on a silicon wafer that
is it acts as a base of the device.
SiO2 : A thin layer of insulating material is formed with
SiO2 for the exchange of electrons and holes.
Gate Terminal : A gate terminal is formed on the
insulating layer. This controls the flow of current between
the drain and source with the help of gate voltage.
Source and drain terminals : These are created on the
either side of the gate. These are basically doped regions.
Channel : Region between the gate, drain and source is
known as channel which controls the flow of charge among
them.
Construction
In the above figure, gate ,source and drain are he three terminals.
Below are the two channels and body terminal.
Characteristics of MOSFET
MOSFETs have majorly two characteristics:-
1. Drain characteristics
2. Transfer characteristics
Difference Between Enhancement Type and
Depletion Type MOSFET
Enhancement Type
MOSFET Depletion Type MOSFET
1. By applying external voltage in
1. By applying external voltage in
the channel, if the amount of
the channel, if the amount of
charge carriers increases, it is
charge carriers decreases, it is
known as enhancement type
known as depletion type MOSFET.
MOSFET.
Enhancement Type
MOSFET Depletion Type MOSFET
2. No channel is present in the 2. Channel is present from the
beginning. beginning.
3. There is no such threshold
3. There is a threshold voltage.
voltage.
4. It does not produce current in 4. It can produce current without
the absence of VGS. any gate voltage.
Uses of MOSFET
Used in digital logic circuits.
It is used as Amplifiers
They are used in Integrated circuits due to small size.
It is also used in Microprocessors
Used in Power electronics
Operating Regions of MOSFET
1. Cutoff Region: In this region of MOSFET, no current flows
as the voltage applied in the MOSFET is less than the
threshold voltage resulting in the failure of formation of
oxide layer. State is OFF.
2. Saturation Region: In this region of MOSFET, a constant
amount of current flows between the drain and source
because of the threshold voltage. State of MOSFET is ON in
this case.
3. Triode Region: It is known as partially conducting state. It
is not fully turned on but there is a channel for current flow.
Voltage here is moderate.
Switching characteristics for both N channel
and P channel MOSFET in tabular form
MOSFET VGS < 0 VGS = 0 VGS > 0
1. P-channel
enhancement ON OFF OFF
type
2. N-channel
enhancement OFF OFF ON
type
3. P-channel
ON ON OFF
depletion type
3. N-channel
OFF ON ON
depletion type
Applications of MOSFET
Amplifiers: MOSFETs are used as an amplifiers in order to
amplify weak signals.
Switching power supplies: They are used as switches
because they can alter power supply efficiently.
Digital logic gates: They are used to build logic
gates such as NAND, NOR etc.
Voltage regulators: They are used as voltage regulators
because they can control the amount of voltage.
Memory devices: They are used in memory cells.
Advantages of MOSFET
High Switching Speed : It can change its state rapidly
from ON and OFF position.
Low Power Consumption : Useful for battery operated
devices.
High input impedance : They use minimum input current.
Low noise : They produce low noise and do not cause
much disturbance.
Disadvantages of MOSFET
Breakdown: MOSFETS have a very thin layer of gate oxide
so on applying high voltage it can cause to breakdown of
entire device.
Temperature: Some functions of MOSFET are altered
because of varying temperatures.
Voltage capacity: They have a limited voltage capacity.
Expensive: Complex manufacturing of MOSFETS can lead
to high cost of overall electronic device.
