Breadboard

A breadboard is a reusable prototyping board that lets you assemble and test electronic circuits quickly without soldering. It consists of a grid of metal contact sockets in a plastic housing; specific rows and rails are internally connected so components and jumper wires can be easily linked. For makers, it’s a fundamental tool to prototype and debug circuits involving sensors, microcontrollers, motor drivers and analog modules before committing to a permanent PCB.

Imagine you want an LED to blink with an Arduino. You insert the LED and a series resistor into two different rows on the breadboard, connect the cathode to the common ground rail and the anode through the resistor to a digital pin on the Arduino using jumper wires. This lets you quickly change components (try a different resistor, add more LEDs, attach a sensor) and debug without soldering. Once the prototype works, you can use the verified circuit as the basis for a PCB or a soldered prototype board.