The Transistor

A transistor is a tiny electronic device that acts as a switch or amplifier for electrical signals. It is made of semiconductor material, usually silicon, and has three main parts: the collector, base, and emitter. By controlling the flow of electrical current through these parts, a transistor can either allow or block the current, similar to a switch.

In computers, transistors are used to represent binary data (0s and 1s) by switching on (1) or off (0). This is the foundation of digital logic, which computers use to process information.

Transistors are incredibly small, so millions (even billions) can be packed into tiny chips like CPUs (central processing units). This has allowed computers to become faster, more powerful, and more energy-efficient. Transistors can be combined to create logic gates, memory units, and other components critical for computing functions.

Transistors can be combined to create logic gates, memory units, and other components critical for computing functions.