Surface-mount technology (
SMT) is a method for producing
electronic circuits in which the components are mounted or placed directly onto the surface of
printed circuit boards (PCBs). An electronic device so made is called a
surface-mount device (
SMD). In the industry it has largely replaced the
through-hole technology construction method of fitting components with wire leads into holes in the circuit board. Both technologies can be used on the same board, with the through-hole technology used for components not suitable for surface mounting such as large transformers and heat-sinked power semiconductors.