Article by Ayman Alheraki on January 11 2026 10:36 AM
Understanding basic electronics is helpful for programmers to grasp how computers and processors, which they rely on for programming, work. This article aims to explain these basics in the simplest way possible with illustrative examples.
Electricity is the flow of electrons through a conductor (such as wires).
Electrons are tiny negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus of an atom.
Voltage (V): The force that drives electrons to flow, measured in volts.
Current (I): The amount of electrons flowing at a given time, measured in amperes.
Resistance (R): The opposition encountered by the current as it flows, measured in ohms.
It expresses the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance: V=I×RV = I \times RV=I×R Where VVV is voltage, III is current, and RRR is resistance.
Understanding how electricity flows helps in grasping how data moves within processors and memory.
Limit the amount of current flowing in a circuit.
Used in processors to adjust signals and reduce noise.
Store electrical charges for a short period.
Used in computers to filter signals and provide extra power when needed.
Allow current to flow in one direction only.
Used in computers in circuits for rectifying electrical signals.
The fundamental component that revolutionized computing.
Act as tiny electronic switches that can be turned on or off.
Used in building integrated circuits and processors.
Chips containing a vast number of interconnected transistors.
Form the foundation of modern processors.
Acts as a switch or an amplifier for current.
Has three terminals: Base, Collector, and Emitter.
When voltage is applied to the base, the transistor allows current to flow between the collector and emitter.
Built using transistors.
Perform logical operations (AND, OR, NOT).
Execute instructions inside processors.
Analog signals: Continuously varying (e.g., sound).
Digital signals: Take only two values (0 and 1), representing "off" and "on."
The basic unit of digital data.
0 = no voltage, 1 = voltage present.
All computing processes are translated into digital signals managed by electronics.
Combine thousands (or even billions) of transistors on a small chip.
Their development has increased speed, efficiency, and reduced processor size.
States that the number of transistors in a processor doubles approximately every two years, enhancing performance.
Transistors have become smaller, enabling more to fit on a chip and reducing power consumption.
AND Gate: Works only if both inputs are 1.
If the input signals are (5V, 0V) to an AND gate, the output will be 0V.
If the base voltage is 0, no current flows (OFF).
If the base voltage is sufficient, current flows (ON).
Operates using cells that store "0" or "1" with capacitors and transistors.
Understanding Mechanics: Helps optimize software to work efficiently with hardware.
Embedded Systems Design: Directly programming processors requires electronics knowledge.
Troubleshooting and Optimization: Assists in identifying performance issues caused by the interaction between software and hardware.
Description: Shows how current is controlled using base voltage.
Description: Demonstrates two inputs (A and B) and the resulting output.
Description: Shows the size of a chip compared to a coin to highlight its compactness.
Understanding electronics basics helps programmers gain deeper insight into how computers function. This knowledge is particularly crucial for those working in embedded systems or low-level software development, providing all programmers with a clearer picture of how their code interacts with hardware.