<< Click to Display Table of Contents >> Navigation:  Background Theory > Part Design > What are footprint land pattern pads?

Footprint, land pattern, and pads are all terms used in PCB design to refer to the physical layout of the copper pads and holes that are used to mount and connect electronic components to the board.

A footprint, also called a land pattern or package, is the set of copper pads and holes that define the physical layout and dimensions of an electronic component on a PCB. Footprints are designed to match the specific size, shape, and pin spacing of a particular component, and are created using specialized software tools.

Pads are the small, circular or rectangular copper areas on the surface of a PCB that connect the component's leads to the traces on the board. Pads can be round, oval, rectangular, or any other shape that is appropriate for the component being used.

The holes on a PCB are used to mount the component to the board using pins or through-hole soldering. The size and shape of the holes are determined by the size and shape of the component leads.

In summary, footprint, land pattern, and pads are all terms used in PCB design to describe the physical layout of the copper pads and holes that are used to mount and connect electronic components to the board. A footprint defines the specific size, shape, and pin spacing of a component, while pads are the small copper areas on the board that connect the component leads to the traces on the board.