Most often when a person who has very little knowledge about electronics first looks at a circuit board full of components he or she becomes confused by the different strange looking objects as well as the diverse drawings on the board.

Therefore, before going deeper into the subject, they should be taught what electronics and semiconductors actually are. Electronics means the study and use of electrical appliances and devices that are operated by controlling the flow of electrons or other electrically charged particles in devices such as thermionic valves and semiconductors.

Electronic components are those basic elements that have been packed in a small form with two or more connecting leads or metallic pads. These components are soldered together to a printed circuit board so as to create an electronic circuit for a particular function (which may be a radio, amplifier etc). The components are usually packed singly and different names have been given for each, such as the diode, LEDs, Transistors, ICs and MPUs. The electronic component has been classified into passive devices and active devices.

Diodes are those one-way valve used for electrical current. The function of the diode is to let the electricity to flow in one direction from positive to negative, and not in the opposite direction. Most diodes look similar to a resistor and always have a painted line on one end showing the direction or flow (white side is the indication for negative). The negative side should be on the negative end of the circuit to enable the current to flow. If the negative is by mistake placed on the positive side of the circuit, no current will flow.

LEDs or light emitting diodes are simple diodes that emit light. They are used as indicator devices to show that the machine is on. They are shaped in different sizes and colors. Some LEDs even emit infra red light which cannot be seen by the naked eye.

The transistor is one of the most important inventions of the modern world. Transistors have two basic functions (a) to act as a switch to turn the current on and off and, (b) to act as an amplifier which converts an output signal to a magnified version of the input signal. There are different sizes of transistors which depend on their application. It may range from a big power transistor used in power amplifiers of the stereo, down to a surface mount (SMT) and even down to .5 microns wide such as in a microprocessor or Integrated Circuit.

Integrated Circuits, or ICs as they are commonly known, are actually complex circuits inside one simple package. The ICs are made out of silicon and metals so as to simulate resistors, capacitors, transistors, etc. ICs are compact and small in size. These components have are packed in a large variety of packages and sizes. Circuits have "pins" coming out of them. Circuits are used for performing the task of a simple timer, to that of a complex logic circuit, or even a microcontroller (microprocessor with a few added functions) with erasable memory built inside.

Microprocessors are large scale ICs and are very complex. At their core of a microprocessor lies transistor which provides the logic for computers, cars, TVs and other electronic items. Today microprocessors are becoming smaller and smaller as companies are finding out new ways and mean to make tinier transistors.

A semiconductor is a substance, consisting of a solid chemical element or compound. The semiconductor can conduct electricity under some conditions making it a good medium for the control of electrical current. Its ability to conduct varies on the current or voltage applied to a control electrode, or on the intensity of irradiation by infra red (IR), visible light, ultraviolet (UV), or X rays.

A semiconductor device can also perform the function of a vacuum tube having hundreds of times its volume. A microprocessor chip which may contain a single integrated circuit (IC) can perform the work of a set of vacuum tubes that would fill a large building and require its own electric generating plant.

Semiconductors are used in electronics and perform a large number of tasks which enables the speeding up of communication and as well as speed up processing. The tasks are performed better if we get to know which component will work best with a particular electronic device. In this way we can maximize the work potential of the device.