discrete devices

A discrete device (or discrete component) is an electronic component with just one circuit element, either passive (resistor, capacitor, inductor, diode) or active (transistor or vacuum tube), other than an integrated circuit. The term is used to distinguish the component from integrated circuits and hybrid circuits, which are built from several circuit elements in one package. It typically refers to semiconductor devices.

Examples are:

• Transistor
  
• Diode
  
• TRIAC
  
• LED
  
• Resistor
  
• Capacitor
  
• Inductor