Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Electronic design automation
open-in-new
<p>Electronic design automation (EDA), also referred to as electronic computer-aided design (ECAD), is a category of <a href="/facts/Software_tools/wWaFqCFw">software tools</a> for designing <a href="/facts/Electronics/E4JhgISq">electronic systems</a> such as <a href="/facts/Integrated_circuit/fjn6vg7C">integrated circuits</a> and <a href="/facts/Printed_circuit_board/muSR2p43">printed circuit boards</a>. The tools work together in a <a href="/facts/Design_flow_(EDA)/MlaFhpow">design flow</a> that chip designers use to design and analyze entire <a href="/facts/Semiconductor/zFf3mGTE">semiconductor</a> chips. Since a modern <a href="/facts/Semiconductor/zFf3mGTE">semiconductor</a> chip can have billions of components, EDA tools are essential for their design; this article in particular describes EDA specifically with respect to <a href="/facts/Integrated_circuit/fjn6vg7C">integrated circuits</a> (ICs). </p>