A breadboard is a solderless plugboard that is reusable and used for prototyping in electronics. The fact that it is solderless allows it to be used for creating temporary prototypes and circuit designs. For an overview of breadboard layouts, types, and brands, please see our breadboard guide.

RS offer a selection of high-quality PCB solderless breadboard, strips, kits, and starter kits for all your electronics design needs.

The layout of a Breadboard

Terminal strips are the main areas that hold most of the electronic components. The metal strips at the bottom of the breadboard have clips that allow you to hold a component in place once inserted into the holes. The wire or component is then electrically connected to anything else that is in that row.Power rails (also known as bus strips) are metal strips that run in the opposite direction to the terminal strips giving you easy access to power wherever it is required in the circuit.The ravine in the centre of a breadboard is used for DIP integrated circuits.

Uses of breadboards

Due to breadboard prototyping capabilities, they are popular with students who use them to create simple or complex circuits.Manufacturers also use breadboards to test out new parts so that they do not have to solder connections each time they test a new design. It gives them the ability to build, test then analyse the results.