What Does Integrated Circuit (IC) Mean?

An integrated circuit (IC) is a small semiconductor-based electronic device consisting of fabricated transistors, resistors and capacitors. Integrated circuits are the building blocks of most electronic devices and equipment.

An integrated circuit is also known as a chip or microchip.

Techopedia Explains Integrated Circuit (IC)

  • Small Scale Integration (SSI): Ten to hundreds of transistors per chip
  • Medium Scale Integration (MSI): Hundreds to thousands of transistors per chip
  • Large Scale Integration (LSI): Thousands to several hundred thousand transistors per chip
  • Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI): Up to 1 million transistors per chip
  • Ultra Large Scale Integration (ULSI): This represents a modern IC with millions and billions of transistors per chip