Electrical symbols or electronic circuits are virtually represented by circuit diagrams.

There are
some standard symbols to represent the components in a circuits. This article gives some of the
frequently used symbols for drawing the circuits. There are many electrical and electronic
schematic symbols are used to signify basic electronic or electrical device. These are mostly we
used for draw circuit diagrams.

Below are different kind of symbols we mentioned category wise. Hope this information will
helps to understand clearly.

Wires, Switches, Sources, Ground, Resistor, Variable Resistor, Capacitor, Inductors,

Diodes, Transistor, Logic Gates, Amplifiers, Antenna, Transformer, Miscellaneous

Electrical Symbols & Electronic Symbols

WIRES

Wires Connected Wires Unconnected Wires

Represents a conductor that Represents two unconnected

conducts electrical current. Also wires/conductors.
called a power line or electric line
Represents the connection of two
or wire.
conductors. Dot shows the junction
point.

Input Bus Line Output Bus Line Terminal

Represents start or end point.

Represents a bus for output or
Represents a bus for input or outgoing data. Represents start or end point.
incoming data.
Bus Line

Represents a number of
conductors joined together to
form a bus wire.

SWITCHES

Push Button (Normally Open) Push Button (Normally Closed) Spst Switch

This switch is initially in ON

This switch is in ON state when
state. This goes to OFF state when
the button is pressed otherwise it
it is released.
is in OFF state.
Spdt Switch
Single pole single throw is
abbreviated as SPST. This acts
as ON/OFF switch. Poles define
the number of circuits it can be
connected to and throws defines
the number of positions that a
pole connects.

Single pole double throw is

abbreviated as SPDT. This
switch allows the current to flow
in any one of the two directions
by adjusting its position.

Spdt Switch Dpst Switch Dpdt Switch

Double pole double throw is the

Single pole double throw is Double pole single throw is full form of DPDT. This can
abbreviated as SPDT. This abbreviated as DPST. This switch connect the four circuits by
switch allows the current to flow can drive two circuits at a time. changing the position.
in any one of the two directions
by adjusting its position.

Relay Switch

This represents the relay switch.

This can control the AC Loads
using the DC voltage applied to
the coil.

SOURCES
AC Supply DC Supply Constant Current Source

This represents AC supply in the This represents the DC power The symbol represents an
circuit. supply. It applies DC supply to the independent current source
circuit. which delivers constant current.

Controlled current Source Controlled Voltage Source Single Cell Battery

It is a dependent current source. It is a dependent voltage source. This provides supply to the
Usually depends on other sources Usually depends on other sources circuit.
(voltage or current). (voltage or current).

Multi Cell Battery

Combination of multiple single

cell batteries or a single large cell
battery. The voltage is usually
higher.
Wave Generators

Sinusoidal Generator Pulse Generator Triangular Wave

Represents sine wave generator. Represents pulse or square wave Represents triangular wave
generator. generator.

GROUND SYMBOLS

Ground Signal Ground Chassis Ground

It is equivalent to theoretical 0V It is a reference point from which

and is used as zero potential the signal is measured. There may It acts as a barrier between user
reference. It is the potential of be several signal grounds in a and the circuit and prevents
perfectly conducting earth. circuit due to the voltage drops in electric shock.
a circuit.

RESISTOR SYMBOLS

Fixed Resistor
It is a device that opposes the
flow of current in a circuit. These
two symbols are used to
represent fixed resistor.

VARIABLE RESISTOR

Rheostat Preset Thermistor

It is a two terminal variable It is a mini variable resistor. It is It is a temperature sensitive

resistor. They are generally used also called Trimmer Resistor or resistor. They are used in
to control the current in the Trim Pot. The resistance is temperature sensing, current
circuit. Generally used in tuning adjusted with rotary control limiting circuits, over-current
circuits and power control present on top of it with the help protection circuits etc.
applications like heaters, ovens of a screw driver. They are used to
etc adjust the sensitivity of the circuit
like temperature or light.

Varistor Magneto Resistor LDR

It is a Voltage Dependent They are also called as Magnetic They are also called as Photo
Resistor. It has non-linear Dependent Resistors (MDR). The Resistors. The resistance of
current-voltage characteristics. resistance of magneto resistor LDR varies with the intensity of
Generally used in circuit varies according to the external the light incident on it. They are
protection from voltage surges magnetic field strength. They are generally used in light sensing
and excessive transient voltages. used in electronic compass, applications.
ferrous material detection,
position sensors etc.

Tapped resistor Attenuator Memristor

A wire-wound type fixed resistor It is a device used to lower the The resistance of memristor is
with one or more terminals along power of a signal. They are made varied according to the direction
its length. Generally used in from simple voltage dividers and of flow of charge. Memristors
voltage divider applications. hence can be classified in the can be used in signal
family of the resistors. processing, logic/computation,
non-volatile memory etc.

CAPACITOR SYMBOLS

Non Polarized Capacitor Polarized Capacitor Electrolytic Capacitor

Capacitor stores the charge in the Polarized capacitors are small in Almost all electrolytic
form of electrical energy. These size but have high capacitance. capacitors are polarized and
two symbols are used for non- They are used in DC circuits. hence used in DC circuits
polarized capacitor. Non- They can be used as filters, for
polarized capacitors are big in bypassing or passing low
size with small capacitance. They frequency signals.
can be used in both AC and DC
circuits.

Feed through Capacitor Variable Capacitor

They provide low impedance The capacitance of the variable

path to ground for high capacitor can be adjusted by
frequency signals turning the knob. They are widely
used to adjust the frequency , that
is for tuning.

INDUCTORS

Iron Core Inductor Ferrite Core Inductors Center Tapped Inductors

These are used as substitutes to Core material, in this type of These are used in coupling of
ferrite core inductors. Ferrite inductors is made of ferrite signals,
core or Ferromagnetic inductors material. These are mostly used to
have high permeability and suppress the interference of
require air gap to reduce it. Iron electromagnetic waves.
powdered core inductors have
this air gap integrated.

Variable Inductors
Movable ferrite magnetic core
variable inductors are most
common. The inductance is
varied by sliding the core in or
out of the coil.

DIODES

Pn Junction Diode Zener Diode Photodiode

A PN junction diode allows the In forward bias condition, it acts Photodiode detects the light
current to flow only in forward as normal diode and allows energy and converts it into
bias condition. These diodes can current. It also allows current to current or voltage by a
be used in clipping and clamping flow in reverse bias condition mechanism called photoelectric
circuits , as rectifiers in dc when the voltage reaches a certain effect. These are used in CD
circuits etc. break-down point. Generally used players , Cameras etc.
in voltage regulator and over
voltage protection circuits.

Led Varactor Diode Shockley Diode

Light emitting diode is similar to Varactor diode is called varicap or This is a four layer diode. This
PN junction diode but they emit variable capacitance diode. The had fast switching operation and
energy in the form of light capacitance of this diode varies hence is used in switching
instead of heat. These are mostly according to the applied input applications.
used in indication , lightening voltage. This is used in frequency
applications. controlled oscillators , frequency
multipliers etc.

Schottky Diode Tunnel Diode Thyristor

It represents Schottky diode. It This is also known as Esaki It consists of four layers of
has low forward voltage drop and diode.It can switch very fastly and alternating P and N materials.
it can switch rapidly. Used in can perform well in micro wave They act as bistable switches
voltage clamping, rectifiers, frequency range. This is used in and are used in circuits where
reverse current and discharge oscillator circuits and micro wave high voltages and currents are
protection circuits. involved.

Constant Current Diode Laser Diode

Also called as Current Limiting The laser diode is similar to light
Diode or Current Regulating emitting diode. The active region
Diode. It limits the current to a is formed in intrinsic region in
specified maximum value. PIN structure. Laser diodes find
its applications in laser printing,
laser scanning etc.

TRANSISTOR SYMBOLS

NPN PNP

It is made of combination of P- It is made of combination of N-

type semiconductor between two type semiconductor between two
N-type semiconductors. It is P-type semiconductors. It is
switched ON when the base- switched ON when the base-
emitter junction is forward emitter junction is reverse biased.
biased. They are commonly used These are used for amplifying and
for amplifying and switching switching applications.
applications.

JFET

N- Channel JFET P-Channel JFET

N-channel JFET is made by n- P-Channel JFET is made by p-

type silicon bars which form two type silicon bar which forms two
PN junctions at the side. Majority PN junctions at the side. Majority
charge carriers here are electrons. charge carriers here are holes.

MOSFET

Enhancement MOSFET Depletion MOSFET

The enhancement mode The depletion mode has negative

MOSFET has positive gate gate operation. This decreases the
operation. It induces negative width of the depletion layer.
charges into the n-channel and
thus number of negative charges
increases, enhancing the channel
conductivity.

Phototransistor Photo Darlington Darlington Transistor

The photo transistor converts the Photo Darlington Transistor is This configuration produces
light energy falling on it to its similar to phototransistor with high current gain. They are used
corresponding electrical energy. very high gain and sensitivity in power regulators, output
This can be used in light sensing stages of audio amplifiers,
applications.Base is left display drivers etc.
disconnected as light is used to
enable the flow of current.

LOGIC GATES
And Gate Or Gate Nand Gate

This is the basic gate and it The OR gate implements logical It is complement of AND gate.
implements logical conjunction. disjunction.The output is high if The output is low only when
The output of the AND gate is any one of the inputs is high. both the inputs are high,
high, only if both the inputs are otherwise it is high.
high otherwise both are low.

Nor Gate Not Gate Exor

NOR gate is a not OR gate. Inverter or NOT gate implements This gate implements exclusive
Output of this gate is high, if logical negation. This gate inverts OR logic. The output of this
both the inputs are Low, the input. gate is high ,if both the inputs
otherwise it is High. are different.

Exnor Buffer Tri-State Buffer

This gate implements negation of It is an audio signaling device. Similar to a normal buffer but
EXOR logic. The output of this Generally used in alarms, timers with a control signal. In case of
gate is high , only if the two and for confirmation messages. active high buffer, it operates
inputs are identical. normally only when control
signal is 1. In case of active low
buffer, it operates normally only
when control signal is 0.

Flip Flop

Flip flop is the also

a memory element but this is a
synchronous device. The figure
below shows the basic D-flip-
flop.

AMPLIFIERS

Basic Amplifier Operational Amplifier

An amplifier is a device that Operational Amplifier (Op Amp)

amplifies a relatively small input is a voltage amplifier with very
signal i.e. it increases the power high gain. The input is
of the signal. They are used in differential. They are used in
communication systems, audio instrumentation devices, signal
devices etc processing, control systems etc

ANTENNA
Antenna Loop Antenna Dipole Antenna

This symbol belongs to Aerial or Loop antenna is named after its It is most widely used
Antenna. It converts electrical loop like shape of wire or other antenna.Generally used in set-
power into radio waves. It is used electrical conductor. They are top TV, shortwave transmission
in wireless communication to used as receiving antennas in low and FM receivers.
transmit or receive the signals. frequency range.

TRANSFORMER

Transformer Iron Core Center Tapped

Transformer is the basic element Uses a piece of magnetic material The center tapped transformer
that transfers energy in one as core. Generally Ferro magnetic has its secondary winding
circuit to the other circuit metals like iron are used. The core divided into two parts with same
through electromagnetic has high permeability and is used number of turns in each part.
induction. They are generally to confine the magnetic field. This results in two individual
used in electric power output voltages across two line
applications to increase or ends. Used in rectifier circuits.
decrease the voltage of AC
current.

Step Up Transformer Step Down Transformer

The no. of turns in secondary The no. of turns in secondary
winding is more than that of winding is less than that of
primary winding. The output primary winding. The output
voltage is higher than input voltage is lesser than input
voltage. Significantly used in voltage. It is widely used in low
inverters. power applications.

MISCELLANEOUS

Buzzer Loud Speaker Light Bulb

This is sound producing device. This is also an audio device. The The symbol represents the light
This produces buzz sound when electrical signal is converted into bulb. The bulb glows when
the voltage is applied. sound signal here. required voltage is applied.

Motor Fuse

Symbol represents the fuse that

This converts the electric energy protects the circuit from over
to mechanical energy. current.

Crystal Oscillator ADC DAC

Used to generate clock signal of Analog to Digital converter is Digital to Analog converter is
very precise frequency. used convert analog signals used to convert digital code to
(usually voltage) to digital values. analog signals.

Thermocouple

It is used to measure
temperature.