Electronic symbol

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.

Common circuit diagram symbols (US ANSI symbols)

Standards for symbols

The graphic symbols used for electrical components in circuit diagrams are covered by national
and international standards, in particular:
IEC 60617 (also known as 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 (https://doi.org/10.1109/I
EEESTD.1993.93397) [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withdrawn without replacement with a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

Symbols shown are typical examples, not a complete list.[3][4]
Traces

Wire crossover symbols for circuit diagrams. The CAD symbol for insulated crossing
wires is the same as the older, non-CAD symbol for non-insulated crossing wires. To
avoid confusion, the wire "jump" (semi-circle) symbol for insulated wires in non-CAD
schematics is recommended (as opposed to using the CAD-style symbol for no
connection), so as to avoid confusion with the original, older style symbol, which
means the exact opposite. The newer, recommended style for 4-way wire connections
in both CAD and non-CAD schematics is to stagger the joining wires into T-junctions.
The large dot signifies an electrical connection.

Grounds
The shorthand for ground is GND. Optionally, the triangle in the middle symbol may be filled in.
General Signal/lo Chassis
ground w-noise ground
(IEC- ground (IEC-
style) (the style)
asterisk
is not
part of
the
symbol)
Sources

Battery, Battery, Solar cell

single- multi-cell (photovol
cell taic cell)
DC Controlle Current Controlle
voltage d DC source d current
source voltage source
source
 AC
voltage
source

Resistors
It is very common for potentiometer and rheostat symbols to be used for many types of variable
resistors and trimmers.
ANSI-style: (a) IEC-style: (a)
Resistor, (b) Resistor, (b)
Rheostat, Rheostat,
(c) (c)
Potentiometer Potentiometer
/ Trimmer / Trimmer
Photoresi Thermist Varistor
stor or (ANSI)
(ANSI) (ANSI).[5]
Use -t for
NTC
symbol.
Use +t for
PTC
symbol.
Capacitors
General Polarized Variable Ganged
capacitor capacitor capacitor (co-
(IEC- (America moving)
style) n-style), variable
such as capacitor
electrolyti s
c and (IEC-
tantalum style)
capacitor
s
 Trimmer
variable
capacitor

Diodes
Optionally, the triangle in these symbols may be filled in. Note: The words anode and cathode
typically aren't part of the diode symbols.
Diode Schottky Zener Transient
(rectifier) diode diode -voltage-
suppressi
on diode
(TVS)
Light- Photodio Tunnel Varicap
emitting de diode
diode
(LED)
Shockley Silicon- Diac Constant-
diode controlle (may be current
d rectifier a varistor diode
(SCR) in older
schemati
cs)
 Opto-
isolator:
LED
(left),
photo
transistor
(right)

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

Three-
phase
bridge
rectifier
Inductors
An inductor can be drawn either as a series of loops, or series of half-circles.
Inductor Air-core Magnetic Tapped
symbol inductor -core inductor
as a (IEC- inductor (IEC-
series of style) (IEEE- style)
loops style)
Ferrite Variable Trimmer
bead inductor variable
(IEEE- inductor
style)
Transformers

Transfor Transfor Transfor Current

mer mer with mer with transfor
center two mer
tap on secondar
secondar y
y winding windings
(right (right
side) side)
Zero- Bushing- Voltage
sequence type transfor
current current mer
transfor transfor
mer mer
(ZSCT)
(also
known as
a
window-
type
current
 transfor
mer)

Transistors
Optionally, transistor symbols may include a circle.[6] Note: The pin letters B/C/E and G/D/S
aren't part of the transistor symbols.
Bipolar

NPN PNP NPN PNP

bipolar bipolar Darlingto Darlingto
junction junction n n
transistor transistor transistor transistor
(BJT) (BJT)
NPN
Phototra
nsistor
Unipolar

N- P- Metal– Enhance
channel channel oxide– ment
junction junction semicon mode, N-
gate gate ductor channel
field- field- field- MOSFET
effect effect effect
transistor transistor transistor
(JFET) (JFET) (MOSFET
)
Enhance
ment
mode, P-
channel
MOSFET
Vacuum tubes

Vacuum Vacuum Vacuum Vacuum

tube tube tube tube
diode triode tetrode pentode
(pin
letters
are not
part of
the
symbol)
Switches
For multiple pole switches, a dotted or dashed line can be included to indicate two or more
switch at the same time (see DPST and DPDT examples below).
Pushbutt Pushbutt Pushbutt Pushbutt
on, on, on, on,
normally normally normally normally
open, open, closed, closed,
push-to- push-to- push-to- two
make make break circuits
(horizont (IEEE- (IEEE- (IEEE-
al line on style) style) style)
top)
Switch, Switch, Switch, Switch,
1P1T, 1P2T, 2P1T, 2P2T,
SPST SPDT DPST DPDT
(single- (single- (double- (double-
pole pole pole pole
single- double- single- double-
throw) throw) throw) throw)
Slide Slide Slide
switch, switch, switch,
1P3T, 1P4T, 1P4T,
break- break- make-
before- before- before-
make, make, break,
nonshorti nonshorti shorting
ng style ng style style
Rotary Rotary Rotary
switch, switch, switch,
1P3T, 1P4T, 1P4T,
break- break- make-
before- before- before-
make, make, break,
nonshorti nonshorti shorting
ng style ng style style
 Reed
switch,
normally
open

Relays
Relays symbols are a combination of an inductor symbol and switch symbol.

Note: The pin letters in these symbols aren't part of the standard relay symbol.
 SPST, SPDT
SPDT, relay
DPST, (IEC-
DPDT style)
relays
(America
n-style)

Lamps
LED is located in diode section.
Neon Indicatin Incandes Incandes
lamp g lamp cent cent light
(IEEE- lamp bulb (as
style) an
indicator)
Light
bulb
Current limiters

IEC fuse Molded- Fuse: IEC

(b), case (top) and
equivalen circuit American
t symbols breaker (lower
(a, c) (MCCB) two)
(IEEE Std
315-
1975)
Electro-acoustic devices
Speaker symbols sometimes include an internal inductor symbol.

Loudspe Buzzer Micropho Micropho

aker (IEC- ne ne
(IEEE- style) (IEEE- (IEC-
style) style) style)
Antennas

General Dipole Loop Loop

antenna antenna antenna antenna
(IEC- (IEC- (IEC- (IEEE-
style) style) style) style)
Cables

Cable, Cable, 2 Cable, Cable, 5

Shielded conducto Shielded conducto
1 r 2 r
conducto conducto
r r with
shield
connecte
d to
ground
 Cable,
Shielded
5
conducto
r

Connectors
There are numerous connector symbol variations.
TRS UEXT
phone connecto
jacks r based
on a 5x2
shrouded
header
with
notch key
ICs

Logic gates
For the symbols below: A and B are inputs, Q is output. Note: These letters are not part of the
symbols.

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 AND NAND
(NOT)

OR NOR XOR XNOR

The above logic symbols may have additional I/O variations too: 1) schmitt trigger inputs, 2) tri-
state outputs, 3) open-collector or open-drain outputs (not shown).
 Buffer gate Buffer gate
with schmitt with tri-state
trigger input output control.
(B is the tri-
state control)

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 Gated SR Gated D Clocked
SR flip- flip-flop flip-flop D flip-flop
flop (Transpar (Set &
(inverted ent Reset
S&R Latch) inputs)
inputs)
 Clocked Clocked
JK flip- T flip-flop
flop

OpAmps
Note: The outside text isn't part of these symbols.
Operation Compara
al tor
amplifier
(opamp)
Oscillators

Crystal Ceramic
oscillator resonator
(IEEE- (3 pins)
style)
Miscellaneous devices

Hall- Gas- Spark

effect discharg gap
sensor e tubes for ESD
(GDT) for discharg
ESD e
discharg
e
Historical electronic symbols
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)
All of the following are obsolete capacitor symbols.
Obsolete Obsolete Obsolete Obsolete
capacitor capacitor capacitor capacitor
(very old
style)

Obsolete
capacitor
See also

Circuit diagram Electronics

portal
Reference designator
Symbols for appliance classes

References

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 (https://d
oi.org/10.1109%2FIEEESTD.1993.93397) .
2. Guidelines for Drawing Schematics (https://
www.k-state.edu/edl/docs/pubs/technical-r
esources/Technote8.pdf) .

3. Circuit Symbols for all Electronic

Components. (http://www.talkingelectronic
s.com/CctSymbols/Circuit_Symbols.html)
Talking Electronics, 2013. Retrieved 01 Apr
2015.

4. Electrical Symbols & Electronic Symbols. (h

ttp://www.rapidtables.com/electric/electric
al_symbols.htm) RapidTables, 2012.
Retrieved 17 April 2016.

5. "Standards for Resistor Symbols" (https://e

epower.com/resistor-guide/resistor-standar
ds-and-codes/resistor-symbols/) .
EePower. EETech Media. Retrieved
September 13, 2021.
 6. "A4.11 Envelope or Enclosure". ANSI Y32.2-
1975 (https://ghostarchive.org/archive/202
21009/https://www.julesbartow.com/Const
ruction/ANSI%20Y32.2-1975.pdf) (PDF).
Archived from the original (https://www.jule
sbartow.com/Construction/ANSI%20Y32.2-
1975.pdf) (PDF) on 2022-10-09. Retrieved
2020-12-29. "The envelope or enclosure
symbol may be omitted from a symbol
referencing this paragraph, where
confusion would not result"

Further reading

Standards

IEC 60617 : Graphical Symbols for

Diagrams (http://std.iec.ch/iec60617) ;
2012.
IEEE 315 : Graphic Symbols for Electrical
and Electronics Diagrams (including
Reference Designation Letters) (https://ie
eexplore.ieee.org/document/985670/) ;
1975.
U.S. DoD MIL-STD-806B : Graphical
Symbols for Logic Diagrams; 1962. (RevB
in 1962) (https://quicksearch.dla.mil/qsDocDeta
ils.aspx?ident_number=35975)

Books

Beginner's Guide to Reading Schematics

(https://www.amazon.com/dp/1260031
101/) ; 4th Ed; Stan Gibilisco; McGraw-
Hill, 224 pages; 2018; ISBN 978-
1260031119.
How to Read Schematic Diagrams (http
s://www.amazon.com/dp/125807676
4/) ; 5th Ed; Donald Herrington; Literary
Licensing; 130 pages; 2011; ISBN 978-
0672224577. (4ed in 1986) (https://archive.or
g/details/howtoreadschemat00herr/) (2ed in
1967) (https://web.archive.org/web/2021030918

4547/https://worldradiohistory.com/BOOKSHELF-

ARH/Sams-Books/How%20To%20Read%20Sche

matic%20Diagrams%20-%20Donald%20E.%20Herr

ington.pdf)

How to Read Electronic Circuit Diagrams

(https://www.amazon.com/dp/0830604
804/) ; 2nd Ed; Robert Brown, Paul
Lawrence, James Whitson; Tab Books;
214 pages; 1988; ISBN 978-
0830628803. (2ed in 1988) (https://archive.or
g/details/howtoreadelectro00robe_0)

Engineer's Mini-Notebook : Schematic

Symbols, Device Packages, Design and
Testing (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B
002806PKO/) ; 1st Ed; Forrest M. Mims
III; Radio Shack; 48 pages; 1988. (1ed in
1988) (https://web.archive.org/web/2021030822

5202/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Com

pany-Publications/Radio-Shack/Engineer's%20Mi

ni-Notebook%20-%20Schematic%20Symbols,%20
 Device%20Packages%20Design%20and%20Testin

g.pdf)

External links

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Commons
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