what is ic in computer

An integrated circuit (IC) is a tiny electronic circuit that has been built in one piece on a semiconductor chip. It is a set of electronic circuits on one small flat piece of semiconductor material, usually silicon. An IC can function as an amplifier, oscillator, timer, counter, logic gate, computer memory, microcontroller, or microprocessor. It is the fundamental building block of all modern electronic devices. ICs are used in virtually all electronic equipment and have revolutionized the world of electronics. They are the heart and brains of most circuits and are used in computers, mobile phones, cars, airplanes, amplifiers, network switches, and many other devices. An IC is an integrated system of multiple miniaturized and interconnected components embedded into a thin substrate of semiconductor material. A single IC could contain thousands or millions of capacitors, diodes, transistors, logic gates, etc. connected together to form a complex digital circuit. The ICs mass production capability, reliability, and building-block approach to integrated circuit design have ensured the rapid adoption of standardized ICs in place of designs using discrete transistors. The advantages of ICs are that they are extremely small, have low power consumption, are reliable, have reduced cost, very small weight, and are easy to replace.