The two basic types of transistors are:
1. **Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT):**
- **Structure:** A BJT consists of three layers of semiconductor material and has three terminals: the emitter (E), the base (B), and the collector (C). The layers are either NPN or PNP.
- **Operation:** In an NPN transistor, current flows from the collector to the emitter with the base acting as the control input. In a PNP transistor, current flows from the emitter to the collector with the base again controlling the flow. The BJT is used for amplification and switching.
- **Types:** NPN and PNP transistors.
2. **Field-Effect Transistor (FET):**
- **Structure:** An FET has three terminals: the gate (G), the drain (D), and the source (S). It controls the flow of current between the drain and the source based on the voltage applied to the gate.
- **Operation:** The FET is voltage-controlled, meaning that the voltage applied to the gate controls the current flow between the drain and the source. This makes it suitable for applications where high input impedance is desired.
- **Types:** The most common types of FETs include the Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor FET (MOSFET), which can be further classified into n-channel and p-channel MOSFETs, and the Junction FET (JFET).
Both types of transistors are fundamental in electronics, serving as key components in amplifiers, switches, and other electronic circuits.