Electronics is the branch of science that deals with the study of flow and control of electrons (electricity) and the study of their behavior and effects in vacuums, gases, and semiconductors, and with devices using such electrons. This control of electrons is accomplished by devices that resist, carry, select, steer, switch, store, manipulate, and exploit the electron.

Difference in “Electronics” and “Electrical”:

Electronics deals with flow of charge (electron) through non-metal conductors (semi-conductors).

Electrical deals with the flow of charge through metal conductors.

Example: Flow of charge through silicon which is not a metal would come under electronics whereas flow of charge through copper which is a metal would come under electrical.

Electronic components are basic electronic element or electronic parts usually packaged in a discrete form with two or more connecting leads or metallic pads. Electronic Components are intended to be connected together, usually by soldering to a printed circuit board (PCB), to create an electronic circuit with a particular function (for example an amplifier, radio receiver, oscillator, wireless). Some of the main Electronic Components are: resistor, capacitor, transistor, diode, operational amplifier, resistor array, logic gate etc.

Electronic components are classed into either being Passive devices or Active devices. Active devices are different from passive devices. These devices are capable of changing their operational performance, may deliver power to the circuit, and can perform interesting mathematical functions. While a device that does not require a source of energy for its operation.

What are Active Devices? 

An active device is any type of circuit component with the ability to electrically control electron flow (electricity controlling electricity). In order for a circuit to be properly called electronic, it must contain at least one active device. Active devices include, but are not limited to, vacuum tubes, transistors, silicon-controlled rectifiers (SCRs), and TRIACs. All active devices control the flow of electrons through them. Some active devices allow a voltage to control this current while other active devices allow another current to do the job.

What are Passive Devices? 

Components incapable of controlling current by means of another electrical signal are called passive devices. Resistors, capacitors, inductors, transformers, and even diodes are all considered passive devices.

An Electronic Circuit may be defined as a collection of electronic elements that performs a prescribed function.

Analog circuits: Analog electronic circuits are those in which signals may vary continuously with time to correspond to the information being represented. Electronic equipments like voltage amplifiers, power amplifiers, tuning circuits, radios, and televisions are mainly analog.

Discrete circuits:

In digital electronic circuits, electric signals take on discrete values, which are not dependent upon time, to represent logical and numeric values. These values represent the information that is being processed. The transistor is one of the primary components used in discrete circuits, and combinations of these can be used to create logic gates. These logic gates may then be used in combination to create a desired output from an input.

Mixed-signal circuits:

Mixed-signal, are also called hybrid circuits, contain elements of both analog and digital circuits. Examples of Mixed-Signal Circuits are - comparators, timers, PLLs, ADCs (analog-to-digital converters), and DACs (digital-to-analog converters).

The field of electronics is such large that it cannot be covered in this one article. Hence, I will keep publishing various on different aspects of electronics.

• Good electronics projects and tutorials

• Capacitor Types and Tutorial

• Audio Circuits

• Amatuer Electronic circuit designs

• Free Electronic Circuits

• Electronics tutorials, projects and software

• Navy 1998 Navy Electricity and Electronics Training Series (NEETS)

• Electronics Tutorials at the Open Directory Project

• Electronics Schematics at the Open Directory Project

• DIY Audio Projects at the Open Directory Project

• DIY Radio Projects at the Open Directory Project

• Some example electronics circuits and detailed descriptions of how they work

• Sources of Electronic Components at the Open Directory Project

• Lessons in Electric Circuits - A free series of textbooks on the subjects of electricity and electronics.