What is a transistor? A transistor is a semiconductor that can act as a tap for electric current. The transistor can act like a switch by maximizing the amount of current flowing through or minimizing it. This device has been essential in the advancement of modern technology; replacing vacuum tubes and electromechanical switches that were unreliable, bulky, overheated and consumed too much energy. A basic electronic device can contain thousands to millions of transistors due to their small size. Transistors also reduced the cost of electronic components due to their structure: being made of inexpensive materials such as silicon, they made the device easy to use. What is a transistor? Transistors are small components found in integrated circuits. A transistor is a small electrical component that has three terminals to which current can be applied. They are the emitter, collector and base. Furthermore, the transistor is composed of three parts: gate, drain and source. The transistor is also made of a semiconductor known as silicon. Silicon ...