A device that is not built into the motherboard, but plugs into a slot on the board. Generally more expensive then integrated devices, but simple to upgrade or replace.
A device that contains one active element, such as a transistor or diode, although a hybrid might contain more than one active element. In comparison, an integrated circuit could contain millions of active elements on a single chip.
An individual electrical or electronic component that must be used in combination with other components to form a complete functional circuit.
A class of electronic components that contain one active element, such as a transistor or diode. However, hybrids, optoelectronic devices, and intelligent discretes may contain more than one active element.
An electronic component with only one circuit element. Semiconductor devices are manufactured as single discrete devices, or integrated circuits (ICs), which consist of a number of devices manufactured onto a single semiconductor substrate.
A discrete device (or discrete component) is an electronic component with just one circuit element, either passive (resistor, capacitor, inductor, diode) or active (transistor or vacuum tube), other than an integrated circuit. The term is used to distinguish the component from integrated circuits and hybrid circuits, which are built from several circuit elements in one package. It typically refers to semiconductor devices.