Terminal (electronics)

Terminal symbol

A terminal strip, to which wires can be soldered

A terminal is the point at which a conductor from a component, device or network comes to an end.^[1] Terminal may also refer to an electrical connector at this endpoint, acting as the reusable interface to a conductor and creating a point where external circuits can be connected.^[2][3] A terminal may simply be the end of a wire or it may be fitted with a connector or fastener.^{[citation needed]}

In network analysis, terminal means a point at which connections can be made to a network in theory and does not necessarily refer to any physical object. In this context, especially in older documents, it is sometimes called a pole. On circuit diagrams, terminals for external connections are denoted by empty circles.^[4] They are distinguished from nodes or junctions which are entirely internal to the circuit, and are denoted by solid circles.^[5]

All electrochemical cells have two terminals (electrodes) which are referred to as the anode and cathode or positive (+) and negative (-). On many dry batteries, the positive terminal (cathode) is a protruding metal cap and the negative terminal (anode) is a flat metal disc (see Battery terminal). In a galvanic cell such as a common AA battery, electrons flow from the negative terminal to the positive terminal, while the conventional current is opposite to this.^[6]

Types of terminals

• Connectors
• Line splices
• Terminal strip, also known as a tag board or tag strip
• Solder cups or buckets
• Wire wrap connections (wire to board)
• Crimp terminals (ring, spade, fork, bullet, blade)
• Turret terminals for surface-mount circuits
• Crocodile clips
• Screw terminals and terminal blocks
• Wire nuts, a type of twist-on wire connector
• Leads on electronic components
• Battery terminals, often using screws or springs
• Electrical polarity

See also

• Electrical connector - many terminals fall under this category
• Electrical termination - a method of signal conditioning

References

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