Term of the Moment
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Definition: discrete component
An elementary electronic device. Before the advent of integrated circuits (chips), all electronic components (transistors, resistors, capacitors, diodes) were individually packaged. However, they are still widely used in amplifiers and other electronic products that require large amounts of current. On a circuit board, discrete components are intermingled with the chips, and there is hardly any electronic product that does not have at least a few discrete resistors or capacitors. See also discrete manufacturing.
Discrete and Integrated
Placing the Devices
The Hexbug Is Discrete
The diode, resistor, transistor and capacitor are single-function devices, whereas the chip (right) can contain any number of them. Both types are found in almost every electronic product.
This shows discrete components being placed onto a printed circuit board. The next step is adhering them to the board by soldering. (Image courtesy of Honeywell, Inc.)
This battery-operated toy contains discrete resistors (numbered) and transistors (black). However, in products such as this, one tiny MCU chip could replace all the discrete components. See microcontroller.