Circuit may refer to:

Science and technology

Electrical engineering

Electrical circuit An electrical network is an interconnection of electrical components (e.g., batteries, resistors, inductors, capacitors, switches, transistors) or a model of such an interconnection, consisting of electrical elements (e.g., voltage sources, ...

, a complete electrical network with a closed-loop giving a return path for current **

Analog circuit Analogue electronics ( en-US, analog electronics) are electronic systems with a continuously variable signal, in contrast to digital electronics where signals usually take only two levels. The term "analogue" describes the proportional relati ...

, uses continuous signal levels **

Balanced circuit A balanced circuit is circuitry for use with a balanced line or the balanced line itself. Balanced lines are a common method of transmitting many types of electrical communication signals between two points on two wires. In a balanced line the tw ...

, paths are impedance-matched **

Circuit analysis A network, in the context of electrical engineering and electronics, is a collection of interconnected components. Network analysis is the process of finding the voltages across, and the currents through, all network components. There are many t ...

, the process of finding the voltages across, and the currents through, every component in an electrical circuit **

Circuit diagram A circuit diagram (wiring diagram, electrical diagram, elementary diagram, electronic schematic) is a graphical representation of an electrical circuit. A pictorial circuit diagram uses simple images of components, while a schematic diagram s ...

, a graphical representation of an electrical circuit **

Digital circuit In theoretical computer science, a circuit is a model of computation in which input values proceed through a sequence of gates, each of which computes a function. Circuits of this kind provide a generalization of Boolean circuits and a mathematical ...

, uses discrete signal levels **

Electronic circuit An electronic circuit is composed of individual electronic components, such as resistors, transistors, capacitors, inductors and diodes, connected by conductive wires or traces through which electric current can flow. It is a type of electrical ...

, contains "active" (nonlinear) electronic components capable of performing amplification, computation, and data transfer ***

Asynchronous circuit Asynchronous circuit (clockless or self-timed circuit) is a sequential digital logic circuit that does not use a global clock circuit or signal generator to synchronize its components. Instead, the components are driven by a handshaking circuit ...

, or self-timed circuit, a sequential digital logic circuit that is not governed by a clock circuit or global clock signal ***

Integrated circuit An integrated circuit or monolithic integrated circuit (also referred to as an IC, a chip, or a microchip) is a set of electronic circuits on one small flat piece (or "chip") of semiconductor material, usually silicon. Large numbers of tiny ...

, a set of electronic circuits on a small "chip" of semiconductor material ****

Mixed-signal integrated circuit A mixed-signal integrated circuit is any integrated circuit that has both analog circuits and digital circuits on a single semiconductor die.Synchronous circuit In digital electronics, a synchronous circuit is a digital circuit in which the changes in the state of memory elements are synchronized by a clock signal. In a sequential digital logic circuit, data are stored in memory devices called flip-fl ...

, a digital circuit in which the changes in the state of memory elements are synchronized by a clock signal **

Printed circuit board A printed circuit board (PCB; also printed wiring board or PWB) is a medium used in Electrical engineering, electrical and electronic engineering to connect electronic components to one another in a controlled manner. It takes the form of a L ...

, on which electronic components are supported and connected using copper tracks on a non-conductive substrate **

Series and parallel circuits Two-terminal components and electrical networks can be connected in series or parallel. The resulting electrical network will have two terminals, and itself can participate in a series or parallel topology. Whether a two-terminal "object" is an ...

, two ways in which electrical components may be interconnected ** Simple filters, including: ***

LC circuit An LC circuit, also called a resonant circuit, tank circuit, or tuned circuit, is an electric circuit consisting of an inductor, represented by the letter L, and a capacitor, represented by the letter C, connected together. The circuit can ac ...

or tank circuit, consisting of an inductance and a capacitance ***

RC circuit A resistor–capacitor circuit (RC circuit), or RC filter or RC network, is an electric circuit composed of resistors and capacitors. It may be driven by a voltage or current source and these will produce different responses. A first order RC c ...

, comprises a resistance and a capacitance ***

RL circuit A resistor–inductor circuit (RL circuit), or RL filter or RL network, is an electric circuit composed of resistors and inductors driven by a voltage or current source. A first-order RL circuit is composed of one resistor and one inductor, eithe ...

, comprises a resistance and an inductance ***

RLC circuit An RLC circuit is an electrical circuit consisting of a electrical resistance, resistor (R), an inductor (L), and a capacitor (C), connected in series or in parallel. The name of the circuit is derived from the letters that are used to denote the ...

, comprises a resistance, an inductance, and a capacitance **

Telecommunication circuit A telecommunication circuit is a path in a telecommunications network used to transmit information. Circuits have evolved over time from generally being built on physical connections between individual hardware cables, as in an analog phone swit ...

, on which information is transmitted **

Nonlinear circuit A linear circuit is an electronic circuit which obeys the superposition principle. This means that the output of the circuit ''F(x)'' when a linear combination of signals ''ax1(t) + bx2(t)'' is applied to it is equal to the linear combination o ...

, a circuit with nonlinear elements.

Mathematics and computer science

Circuit (computer theory) In theoretical computer science, a circuit is a model of computation in which input values proceed through a sequence of gates, each of which computes a function. Circuits of this kind provide a generalization of Boolean circuits and a mathematical ...

, a theoretical structure simulating electrical and data paths **

Boolean circuit In computational complexity theory and circuit complexity, a Boolean circuit is a mathematical model for combinational digital logic circuits. A formal language can be decided by a family of Boolean circuits, one circuit for each possible input ...

, a mathematical model for digital logic circuits **

Integer circuit In computational complexity theory, an integer circuit is a circuit model of computation in which inputs to the circuit are sets of integers and each gate of the circuit computes either a set operation or an arithmetic operation on its input sets. ...

, a mathematical object of computational complexity *

Circuit complexity In theoretical computer science, circuit complexity is a branch of computational complexity theory in which Boolean functions are classified according to the size or depth of the Boolean circuits that compute them. A related notion is the circui ...

, a branch of computational complexity theory *

Cycle (graph theory) In graph theory, a cycle in a graph is a non-empty trail in which only the first and last vertices are equal. A directed cycle in a directed graph is a non-empty directed trail in which only the first and last vertices are equal. A graph witho ...

, a closed path, with no other repeated vertices than the starting and ending vertices *

Circuit of a matroid In mathematics, a basis of a matroid is a maximal independent set of the matroid—that is, an independent set that is not contained in any other independent set. Examples As an example, consider the matroid over the ground-set R2 (the vectors i ...

Other sciences

Biological neural network A neural circuit is a population of neurons interconnected by synapses to carry out a specific function when activated. Neural circuits interconnect to one another to form large scale brain networks. Biological neural networks have inspired the ...

, in neuroscience *

Hydraulic circuit Hydraulic machines use liquid fluid power to perform work. Heavy construction vehicles are a common example. In this type of machine, hydraulic fluid is pumped to various hydraulic motors and hydraulic cylinders throughout the machine and ...

, in fluid mechanics *

Magnetic circuit A magnetic circuit is made up of one or more closed loop paths containing a magnetic flux. The flux is usually generated by permanent magnets or electromagnets and confined to the path by magnetic cores consisting of ferromagnetic materials l ...

, in physics, one or more closed loop paths containing a magnetic flux *

Monetary circuit theory Monetary circuit theory is a heterodox theory of monetary economics, particularly money creation, often associated with the post-Keynesian school. It holds that money is created endogenously by the banking sector, rather than exogenously by cent ...

, a heterodox theory of monetary economics, also called ''circuitism'' *

Pneumatic circuit A pneumatic circuit is an interconnected set of components that convert compressed gas (usually air) into mechanical work. In the normal sense of the term, the circuit must include a compressor or compressor-fed tank. Components The circuit compr ...

, in fluid mechanics *

Synthetic biological circuit Synthetic biological circuits are an application of synthetic biology where biological parts inside a cell are designed to perform logical functions mimicking those observed in electronic circuits. The applications range from simply inducing prod ...

, in synthetic biology

Arts, entertainment, and media

* ''Circuit'' (film), a 2001 gay-themed film set in the world of gay circuit parties * '' Mario Kart: Super Circuit'', a 2001 Game Boy Advance game and the third game in the ''Mario Kart'' series * "Circuit", a character from the ''

Munna Bhai Murliprasad Sharma, better known as Munna Bhai, is an Indian fictional character who appears in the ''Munna Bhai'' film series. The character is created by Rajkumar Hirani and portrayed by Sanjay Dutt. Films overview Murli Prasad Sharma (port ...

'' film series * Circuit, a character from ''Power Rangers Time Force''

Church

Circuit (LCMS) A circuit, in the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS), is a local grouping of congregations within one of the Synod's 35 districts. Circuits typically include 8 to 12 congregations. In order to send a pair of delegates to the triennial Synodic ...

, a local grouping of congregations in the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod *

Methodist Circuit The organisation of the Methodist Church of Great Britain is based on the principle of connexionalism. This means that British Methodism, from its inception under John Wesley (1703–1791), has always laid strong emphasis on mutual support, in ...

, a form of church governance in Methodism

Government and law

Circuit (administrative division) A circuit ( or ) was a historical political division of China and is a historical and modern administrative unit in Japan. The primary level of administrative division of Korea under the Joseon and in modern North and South Korea employs the sam ...

, an administrative country subdivision in East Asia * Circuit court, the name of court systems in several common law jurisdictions

Sports

Circuit training Circuit training is a form of body conditioning that involves endurance training, resistance training, high-intensity aerobics, and exercises performed in a circuit, similar to high-intensity interval training. It targets strength building and mu ...

, a form of high-intensity aerobics * ITF Pro Circuit, pro tennis tours of the

International Tennis Federation The International Tennis Federation (ITF) is the governing body of world tennis, wheelchair tennis, and beach tennis. It was founded in 1913 as the International Lawn Tennis Federation by twelve national tennis associations. As of 2016, there a ...

ITF Men's Circuit The ITF World Tennis Tour (formerly known as the ''ITF Men's World Tennis Tour'', and previously ''ITF Men's Circuit'') is a series of professional tennis tournaments held around the world that are organized by the International Tennis Federation. ...

ITF Women's Circuit The ITF Women's World Tennis Tour, previously known as the ITF Women's Circuit, is a series of professional tennis tournaments run by the International Tennis Federation for female professional tennis players. History It serves as a developmental ...

Transportation and racing

Circuit (airfield) An airfield traffic pattern is a standard path followed by aircraft when takeoff, taking off or landing while maintaining visual contact with the airfield. At an airport, the pattern (or circuit) is a standard path for coordinating air traffic co ...

, also called pattern, a standard path followed by aircraft when taking off or landing * Circuit, a

race track A race track (racetrack, racing track or racing circuit) is a facility built for racing of vehicles, athletes, or animals (e.g. horse racing or greyhound racing). A race track also may feature grandstands or concourses. Race tracks are also u ...

or one complete traverse of a track ** Formula One circuits (see

list of Formula One circuits Formula One, abbreviated to F1, is currently the highest class of open-wheeled auto racing defined by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), motorsport's world governing body. The "formula" in the name refers to a set of rules t ...

) **

Kart circuit A kart circuit is a race track designed for kart racing or other forms of short length motor racing, such as small-scale motorcycle racing, pocketbike racing, or radio-controlled model racing. There are several types of kart circuit, depending o ...

, a race track designed for kart racing

Other uses

Circuit (software) Unify, is an Atos company headquartered in Munich, Germany and is present in over 100 countries. The company provides software-based enterprise unified communications including voice, Web collaboration, video conferencing and contact center, netw ...

, a collaboration service software by Unify * Circuit, slang for hangouts or events frequented by a given

social circle In the social sciences, a social group can be defined as two or more people who interact with one another, share similar characteristics, and collectively have a sense of unity. Regardless, social groups come in a myriad of sizes and varieties ...

Circuit party A circuit party is a large dance event. It extends through the night and into the following day, almost always with a number of affiliated events in the days leading up to and following the main event. Proto-circuit parties in the late 1970s, t ...

, a gay dance event