what is an operational amplifier

An operational amplifier, or op-amp for short, is an integrated circuit that can amplify weak electric signals. It has two input pins and one output pin, and its basic role is to amplify and output the voltage difference between the two input pins. An op-amp is a DC-coupled high-gain electronic voltage amplifier with a differential input and, usually, a single-ended output. It can amplify signals by a factor of up to 100,000. Op-amps are used in a wide range of applications, including amplifiers, buffers, comparators, filters, and more. They can also be configured to perform a variety of operations, such as arithmetical operations or signal synthesis. Op-amps are commonly used to amplify weak analog signals from sensors in a wide range of IoT devices and home appliances.