Abbreviated as SMT,
surface-mount technology is a
design standard for constructing electronic
circuits where the components are mounted directly onto the the surface of
the
printed circuit board (PCB). The
components have small metal tabs (or caps) that are soldered directly to the
surface of the printed circuit board on tin-lead, silver, or gold plated
copper pads, called solder pads.
Contrast with through-hole
technology.
See "What You
Need to Know About Motherboards" in the
Quick Reference section
of Webopedia.
