what is an opamp

An operational amplifier (op-amp) is an integrated circuit that can amplify weak electric signals. It is a voltage amplifying device designed to be used with external feedback components such as resistors and capacitors between its output and input terminals. An op-amp has two input pins and one output pin. Its basic role is to amplify and output the voltage difference between the two input pins. An op-amp can amplify the difference in voltage between the noninverting and inverting inputs, and its output voltage is given by an equation that indicates that the output is in the same phase as the noninverting input and in opposite phase to the inverting input. Op-amps are generally used with negative feedback to reduce product variations in gain and expand the bandwidth. An op-amp can be configured as a filter, phase shifter, buffer (voltage follower), etc. . Op-amps are commonly used to amplify weak analog signals from sensors in a wide range of IoT devices and home appliances.