Arduino Basics: Board Anatomy and Pinout
Table of Contents
Understanding the physical layout and pins of an Arduino board is essential for connecting sensors, actuators, and other components correctly.
Main Components
An Arduino board has several key components that you should be familiar with:
USB Port: Used to connect the board to your computer for uploading sketches and powering the board.
Power Jack: Allows you to power the board with an external power supply (usually 7–12V).
Reset Button: Resets the program currently running on the board.
Power Pins
These pins provide power to sensors, modules, and other external components:
3.3V: Provides 3.3 volts output for low-voltage components.
5V: Provides 5 volts output for most sensors and modules.
GND: Ground pins, used to complete electrical circuits.
Input/Output Pins
Arduino boards have several types of pins for connecting components:
Digital Pins: Can be used as input or output. Values are either HIGH (1) or LOW (0).
PWM Pins: Digital pins that can simulate analog output using Pulse Width Modulation (marked with “~”).
Analog Pins: Read analog signals (0–5V) from sensors and provide input to the board.
Reading a Pinout Diagram
A pinout diagram helps you identify the location and function of each pin. When reading a diagram:
Look for labels indicating power, ground, digital, PWM, and analog pins.
Check the pin numbering to ensure correct wiring.
Refer to the board model’s diagram, as layouts may differ between Arduino Uno, Nano, Mega, and other boards.