Pin-compatible

The term pin-compatible refers to electronic components that have the same physical and electrical characteristics, specifically in terms of the arrangement of their pins or connectors. The pin compatibility allows one component to be substituted for another without requiring any changes to the existing hardware or its connections. Essentially, pin compatibility simplifies swapping components in electronic systems, as the new one can be plugged into the same socket or interface as the old one.

Pin-compatible devices are designed to facilitate upgrades in specific product lines, replace end-of-life devices with new versions, or compete with similar products from other manufacturers.

Common among ICs (integrated circuits) and expansion cards, pin compatibility is also highly valued by systems integrators. It enables product updates without the need to redesign PCBs (printed circuit boards), thereby reducing costs and time-to-market.

It's important to note that while pin-compatible devices share a common physical footprint, they may not be electrically or thermally compatible. Consequently, manufacturers often categorize devices as either pin-to-pin or drop-in compatible.

Hardware terms, Interface, Pin, Plug-compatible, Socket, Version