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field-effect transistor

electronics
Also known as: FET

Quick Summary

A field-effect transistor (FET) is a semiconductor device that controls the output current using a variable electric field. It operates by manipulating an electric field to control the conductivity of a semiconductor channel. This field is typically applied via a gate electrode, which is insulated from the channel by a thin layer.12

FETs are classified as unipolar devices because their conduction relies on either electrons or holes, but not both. This characteristic contributes to their low power consumption, making them suitable for battery-powered devices and integrated circuits.2345

There are two main types of FETs: depletion-mode and enhancement-mode. Depletion-mode FETs have a conductive channel that can be depleted of charge carriers. Enhancement-mode FETs, on the other hand, require a gate voltage to create a conductive channel. Metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) are a widely used type of FET, particularly in very-large-scale integrated circuits, due to their scalability, low power consumption, and ease of manufacturing.265

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