Solder
Solder is a metal alloy commonly comprised of tin or lead that melts when heated and allows a permanent connection between electronic parts or wires. The picture shows someone using a soldering iron and soldering an IC (integrated circuit) onto a PCB (printed circuit board).
When soldering, ensure you are in a well-ventilated room, have a fan, or have a fume extractor. Breathing in the fumes generated by melted solder can pose a health risk from the rosin and other elements.
What is desoldering?
Desoldering describes the removal of solder from an electrical component. For example, when replacing an IC on a circuit board, the technician must desolder the component first. After the solder is heated or removed, the component can be removed, and after its removal, any remaining solder is cleaned off the board. Once cleaned, the replacement component can be soldered in its place.
Tools used during the desoldering process may include a desoldering gun, desoldering pump, heat gun, solder wick, tweezers, and a magnification device to help see small components.
What is solderless?
The term solderless describes any prototyping or development that creates a circuit or connection without using solder. For example, using a jumper wire to make a connection on a breadboard is an example of solderless development.