Electronic symbol

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Common circuit diagram symbols (US ANSI symbols)

An electronic symbol is a pictogram used to represent

various electrical and electronic devices or functions, such as wires, batteries, resistors,
and transistors, in a schematic diagram of an electrical or electronic circuit. These
symbols are largely standardized internationally today, but may vary from country to
country, or engineering discipline, based on traditional conventions.

Contents

 1Standards for symbols

 2Common electronic symbols
o 2.1Traces
o 2.2Grounds
o 2.3Sources
o 2.4Resistors
o 2.5Capacitors
o 2.6Diodes
 2.6.1Bridge rectifiers
o 2.7Inductors
o 2.8Transformers
o 2.9Transistors
 2.9.1Unipolar
 2.9.2Bipolar
o 2.10Vacuum tubes
o 2.11Switches
o 2.12Relays
 o2.13Lamps
o2.14Current limiters
o2.15Electro-acoustic devices
o2.16Antennas
o2.17Connectors
o2.18ICs
 2.18.1Logic gates
 2.18.2Flip-flops
 2.18.3OpAmps
o 2.19Oscillators
o 2.20Miscellaneous devices
 3Historical electronic symbols
o 3.1Capacitors (historical)
 4See also
 5References
 6Further reading
 7External links

Standards for symbols[edit]

The graphic symbols used for electrical components in circuit diagrams are covered by
national and international standards, in particular:

 IEC 60617 (also known as British Standard BS 3939).

 There is also IEC 61131-3 – for ladder-logic symbols.
 JIC JIC (Joint Industrial Council) symbols as approved and
adopted by the NMTBA (National Machine Tool Builders
Association). They have been extracted from the Appendix
of the NMTBA Specification EGPl-1967.
 ANSI Y32.2-1975 (also known as IEEE Std 315-1975[1] or
CSA Z99-1975).
 IEEE Std 91/91a: graphic symbols for logic functions (used
in digital electronics). It is referenced in ANSI Y32.2/IEEE
Std 315.
 Australian Standard AS 1102 (based on a slightly modified
version of IEC 60617; withdrawn without replacement with
a recommendation to use IEC 60617).
The number of standards leads to confusion and errors. [2] Symbols usage is sometimes
unique to engineering disciplines, and national or local variations to international
standards exist. For example, lighting and power symbols used as part of architectural
drawings may be different from symbols for devices used in electronics.

Common electronic symbols[edit]

Symbols shown are typical examples, not a complete list. [3][4]
Traces[edit]
The large dot signifies an electrical connection.

Trace connection
(IEC-style)
 

Trace junction
(IEC-style)
 

Trace crossing (unconnected)

 

Trace crossing
(hand drawn schematics)

Grounds[edit]
The shorthand for ground is GND. Optionally, the triangle in the middle symbol may be
filled in.
 

General ground
(IEC-style)
 

Signal/low-noise ground
 

Chassis ground
(IEC-style)

Sources[edit]


Battery, single-cell
 
 

Battery, multi-cell
 

Solar cell (photovoltaic cell)

 

DC voltage source
 

Controlled DC voltage source

 
 

Current source
 

Controlled current source

 

AC voltage source

Resistors[edit]
See also: Resistor
It is very common for potentiometer and rheostat symbols to be used for many types of
variable resistors, including trimmers.

ANSI-style: (a) Resistor, (b) Rheostat,

(c) Potentiometer / Trimmer
 


 IEC-style: (a) Resistor, (b) Rheostat,
(c) Potentiometer / Trimmer
 

Thermistor or varistor[5]

Capacitors[edit]


General capacitor
(IEC-style)
 

Polarized capacitor
(American-style)
 

Variable capacitor
 
 

Ganged (co-moving) variable capacitors

(IEC-style )
 

Trimmer variable capacitor

Diodes[edit]
See also: Diode
Optionally, the triangle in these symbols may be filled in. There are multiple ways to
draw a bridge rectifier symbol.

Diode (rectifier)
 

Schottky diode
 

Zener diode
 
 

Transient-voltage-suppression diode (TVS)
 

Light-emitting diode (LED)
 

Photodiode
 

Tunnel diode
 

Varicap
 

Shockley diode
 

Silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR)
  

Diac (may be a varistor in older schematics)

 

Constant-current diode
 

Opto-isolator: LED (left), photo transistor (right)

Bridge rectifiers[edit]
See also: Bridge rectifier
There are many ways to draw a single-phase bridge rectifier symbol. Some show the
internal diode circuit, some don't.

Bridge rectifier
 
 Bridge rectifier


 Bridge rectifier
 

Bridge rectifier
 

Three-phase bridge rectifier

Inductors[edit]
See also: Inductor

Air-core inductor
(IEC-style)
 

Magnetic-core inductor
(IEEE-style)
 

Tapped inductor
(IEC-style)
 
 

Ferrite bead
(IEEE-style)

Transformers[edit]
See also: Transformer

Transformer
 

Transformer with center tap on secondary winding (right side)

 

Transformer with two secondary windings (right side)

 
 

Current transformer
 

Zero-sequence current transformer (ZSCT) (also known as a window-

type current transformer)
 

Bushing-type current transformer

 

Voltage transformer

Transistors[edit]
Optionally, these symbols may include a circle.[6]
 

N-channel junction gate field-effect transistor (JFET)

 

P-channel junction gate field-effect transistor (JFET)

 

Metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET)

 

Enhancement mode, N-channel MOSFET

 
 

Enhancement mode, P-channel MOSFET

Bipolar[edit]
See also: Bipolar junction transistor
Optionally, these symbols may include a circle.

NPN bipolar junction transistor (BJT)

 

PNP bipolar junction transistor (BJT)

 

NPN Darlington transistor
 
 

PNP Darlington transistor

Vacuum tubes[edit]


Vacuum tube diode
 

Vacuum tube triode
 


 Vacuum tube tetrode
 

Vacuum tube pentode

Switches[edit]
See also: Switch

Switch, single-pole/single-throw (SPST)

 

Switch, single-pole/double-throw (SPDT)

 

Switch, double-pole/double-throw (DPDT)

 

Pushbutton, momentary or Spring-Return, make (IEEE-style)

 
 

Pushbutton, momentary or spring-return, break (IEEE-style)

 

Pushbutton, momentary or spring-return, two-circuit (IEEE-style)

Relays[edit]
See also: Relay

SPST, SPDT, DPST, DPDT relays

(American-style)
 

SPDT relay
(IEC-style)

Lamps[edit]
LED is located in diode section.

Neon lamp
 
 

Indicating lamp
(IEEE-style)
 

Incandescent lamp
 

Incandescent light bulb (as an indicator)

 

Light bulb

Current limiters[edit]


IEC fuse (b), equivalent symbols (a, c) (IEEE Std 315-1975)

 


 Moulded-case circuit breaker (MCCB)
 

Fuse: IEC (top) and American (lower two)

Electro-acoustic devices[edit]


Loudspeaker
(IEEE-style)
 

Buzzer
(IEC-style)
 

Microphone
(IEEE-style)
  

Microphone
(IEC-style)

Antennas[edit]
See also: Antenna (radio)

General antenna
(IEC-style)
 

Dipole antenna
(IEC-style)
 

Loop antenna
(IEC-style)
 
 

Loop antenna
(IEEE-style)

Connectors[edit]
See also: Electrical connector

TRS phone jacks

ICs[edit]
See also: Integrated circuit
Logic gates[edit]
See also: Logic gates
For the symbols below: A and B are inputs, Q is output.
There are variations of these logic gate symbols. Depending on the IC, the two-input
gates below may have: 1) two or more inputs; 2) infrequently some have a second
inverted Q output too.

Buffer
 

Inverter (NOT)
 
 

AND
 

NAND
 

OR
 

NOR
 

XOR
 

XNOR
The above logic symbols may have additional I/O variations too: 1) schmitt
trigger input(s), 2) tri-state output, 3) open-collector or open-drain output (not shown).


 Buffer gate with schmitt trigger input
 

Buffer gate with tri-state output control.

(B is the tri-state control)
Flip-flops[edit]
See also: Flip-flops
For the symbols below: Q is output, Q is inverted output, E is enable input, internal
triangle shape is clock input, S is Set, R is Reset (some datasheets use clear (CLR)
instead of reset along the bottom).
There are variations of these flip-flop symbols. Depending on the IC, a flip-flop may
have: 1) one or both outputs (Q only, Q only, both Q & Q); 2) one or both forced inputs
along top & bottom (R only, S only, both R & S); 3) some inputs may be inverted.

Simple SR flip-flop (inverted S & R inputs)

 

Gated SR flip-flop
 


 Gated D flip-flop (Transparent Latch)
 

Clocked D flip-flop
(Set & Reset inputs)
 

Clocked JK flip-flop
 

Clocked T flip-flop
OpAmps[edit]

Operational amplifier (opamp)
 
 

Comparator

Oscillators[edit]
See also: Electronic oscillator

Crystal oscillator
(IEEE-style)
 

Ceramic resonator
(3 pins)

Miscellaneous devices[edit]


Hall-effect sensor
 


 Gas-discharge tubes (GDT) for ESD discharge
 

Spark gap
for ESD discharge

Historical electronic symbols[edit]

The shape of some electronic symbols have changed over time. The following historical
electronic symbols can be found in old electronic books / magazines / schematics, and
now considered obsolete.
Capacitors (historical)[edit]
All of the following are obsolete capacitor symbols.

Obsolete capacitor
(very old style)
 

Obsolete capacitor
 


 Obsolete capacitor
 

Obsolete capacitor
 

Obsolete capacitor

References[edit]
1. ^ "IEEE Standard American National Standard Canadian Standard
Graphic Symbols for Electrical and Electronics Diagrams (Including
Reference Designation Letters)," in IEEE Std 315-1975 (Reaffirmed
1993) , vol., no., pp.i-244, 1993, doi:10.1109/IEEESTD.1993.93397.
2. ^ Guidelines for Drawing Schematics.
3. ^ Circuit Symbols for all Electronic Components. Talking Electronics,
2013. Retrieved 01 Apr 2015.
4. ^ Electrical Symbols & Electronic Symbols. RapidTables, 2012.
Retrieved 17 April 2016.
5. ^ "Standards for Resistor Symbols".  eePower. EETech Media.
Retrieved September 13, 2021.
6. ^ "A4.11 Envelope or Enclosure". ANSI Y32.2-1975  (PDF). The
envelope or enclosure symbol may be omitted from a symbol
referencing this paragraph, where confusion would not result