Programming Kit for Micro:Bit

Jargon buster

Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.

DS1302

A real-time clock chip used to keep track of time and date, often with a small backup battery. It matters for data logging, timers, and classroom projects that need timekeeping even when the main controller is reset or turned off.

DS18B20

The DS18B20 is a common digital temperature sensor, often supplied in a waterproof stainless-steel probe, that sends its readings to a microcontroller over a 1-Wire connection. It is a typical choice for adding temperature data to environmental or water-monitoring projects.

encoder

An encoder is a sensor that converts the rotation or position of a shaft, knob or dial into electrical signals, reporting movement as incremental steps and direction, or as an absolute position. It is used to track how far something has turned, which matters for precise positioning, speed control, repeatable movement, or using a rotary knob as an input.

LED

A light-emitting diode (LED) is a small electronic component that emits light when current flows through it in the correct direction. Because it only conducts one way, its polarity matters, and a through-hole LED must be soldered the correct way around to light up.

OLED

OLED stands for organic light-emitting diode, a display type where each pixel produces its own light. It matters because OLED screens are thin, high-contrast and easy to read for small status displays, but they can be more sensitive to image burn-in than some other display types.

photocell

A light-sensitive component whose electrical resistance changes with the amount of light falling on it. It matters when choosing or using light sensors, automatic lights, or brightness-detecting circuits because its response speed, resistance range, and sensitivity affect how reliably it detects light levels.

potentiometer

A variable resistor usually turned with a knob or shaft to create an adjustable electrical signal. It is often used for inputs such as volume, brightness or position, so it helps beginners learn how a microcontroller reads changing values.

Relay module

A relay module uses an electrically controlled switch to let a low-power microcontroller control a separate circuit. It matters when switching devices that need different voltages or more current than a microcontroller pin can safely handle.

RGB

Short for red, green and blue, the three primary colours of light that are mixed in varying amounts to make a wide range of colours. In electronics RGB can refer to an LED or pixel that blends these three colours, or to a colour signal or interface that carries separate red, green and blue channels.

servo

A servo is a motor with built-in position control, usually told to move to a specific angle by a control signal. It matters when you need repeatable movement, such as steering, arms, flaps, or linkages, rather than continuous spinning.