---
title: Basics: Working With Hardware
slug: basics-working-with-hardware
icon: 🚩
docTags: 
createdAt: 2023-10-15T21:05:04.139Z
---

When building your project, you will interface hardware elements with your project. These may be as simple as a push button which triggers an input to a more complicated or sophisticated element for example a device that needs a protocol or multiple IO lines to interface with it.

External hardware  elements are intended to enhance the design to 

- Provide the ability to interact with the system:
  - Keypad
  - Analog Inputs
    - Potentiometer
  - Sensor Inputs
    - [Analog Sensors](docId\:sh23hAJezINDs751wChV-)
    - [Digital Sensors](docId:1e-GmhnsW0CES2XOgXJwl)
  - Digital inputs
    - [The Tactile Switch](docId:59RcTbIWoi4UchNahkR0s)
    - [DIP Switches](docId\:jvNkN8Pa6Zr14jAl6ENuQ)
    - [Rotary BCD Switch](docId\:l7i_56LUOx6F5Bpy1eKTU)
  - Headers
    - [PIN Headers](docId\:V2iuxsSaTR3LedAqNos8y)
- Provide the ability for the system to interact with the outside world
  - Motors
  - [LED - Light Emitting Diode](docId:13mqr0HPOxQfIauemBPgu)
  - LC Displays TFT
  - Wireless and Wired communication options

## Hardware Elements

The list of hardware elements that can be used in a project is extensive. The list below describing what can be achieved using hardware will provide the elementary information needed to build a project.

### Digital Inputs

A digital input is one when the state changes from either high-low or low to high, and the change is used as the basis for triggering an action by the microcontroller.

[The Tactile Switch](docId:59RcTbIWoi4UchNahkR0s)

[DIP Switches](docId\:jvNkN8Pa6Zr14jAl6ENuQ)

[Rotary BCD Switch](docId\:l7i_56LUOx6F5Bpy1eKTU)

### Digital Outputs

A digital output has two states either on or off. This is useful for turning equipment or indication lighting on and off.

[LED - Light Emitting Diode](docId:13mqr0HPOxQfIauemBPgu)