A component, in the context of electronics and engineering, refers to an individual part or device that makes up a larger system or product. Components are the building blocks of electronic circuits and systems, and they serve specific functions within those systems. These components can be active or passive and can include items such as resistors, capacitors, transistors, diodes, integrated circuits, sensors, connectors, and more.
Here are two main types of components:
Passive Components: These components do not require an external power source to function. They include elements like resistors (which restrict the flow of electrical current), capacitors (which store electrical charge), inductors (which store energy in a magnetic field), and passive filters (which allow or block certain frequencies in a signal).
Active Components: These components require an external power source to operate. They are usually semiconductor devices and include transistors (used for amplification and switching), diodes (used for rectification and voltage regulation), and integrated circuits (ICs) that contain multiple active and passive components within a single package. Microcontrollers and microprocessors are examples of complex active components.