Click here

transistor

A device composed of semiconductor material that amplifies a signal or opens or closes a circuit. Invented in 1947 at Bell Labs, transistors have become the key ingredient of all digital circuits, including computers. Today's microprocessors contains tens of millions of microscopic transistors.

Prior to the invention of transistors, digital circuits were composed of vacuum tubes, which had many disadvantages. They were much larger, required more energy, dissipated more heat, and were more prone to failures. It's safe to say that without the invention of transistors, computing as we know it today would not be possible.



Top Terms
  • 1

    private cloud project

    Companies initiate private cloud projects to enable their IT infrastructure to become more capable of quickly adapting to continually evolving...

    Read more »

  • 2

    cloud backup

    A cloud backup (cloud computer backup) refers to backing up data to a remote, cloud-based server. As a form of cloud storage, cloud backup data is...

    Read more »

  • Click Here!

Connect with Webopedia

  • Android Apps for Remote Computer Access

    Remote access is useful when you need to collaborate with co-workers, help a friend with PC problems or grab files from your desktop.

    Read More »

Did You Know? Archive »

  • Quick Reference Archive »