Displays

Small color TFT displays are among the most popular display types in Arduino and ESP32 projects. They are inexpensive, widely available and capable of showing full-color graphics, menus and simple user interfaces. This article explains how TFT LCD displays work, compares the common ST7735 and ST7789 controllers, and shows when to use each type. What […]

Monochrome graphic LCDs are a practical middle ground between simple character displays and full-color TFT screens. They allow pixel-level control without the complexity, cost and power consumption of color displays. This article explains how graphic LCDs work and compares two common controller families: ST7567 and ST7920. What Is a Graphic LCD? A graphic LCD allows

Round TFT displays are becoming increasingly popular in modern embedded projects. Unlike traditional rectangular screens, they offer a distinctive visual appearance that is well suited for gauges, dials and compact user interfaces. One of the most common controllers used in these displays is the GC9A01. This article explains how GC9A01-based displays work and where they

Parallel TFT displays are less common in modern hobby projects, but they still have an important advantage: speed. When a display needs to update large amounts of data quickly, a parallel interface can outperform SPI-based displays. This article explains how SPFD5408-based TFT displays work and when they are the right choice. What Is an SPFD5408

Small OLED displays are one of the most popular choices for modern embedded systems. They offer high contrast, low power consumption and compact size, making them ideal for Arduino, ESP32 and CANABLOX projects. This article explains how OLED displays work and compares the most common controller chips: SSD1306, SH1106 and SSD1309. What Is an OLED

Character LCDs are one of the oldest and most reliable display types used in embedded systems. Despite their simplicity, they are still widely used in Arduino, ESP32 and industrial applications because they are easy to control, highly readable and very cost-effective. This article explains how HD44780-compatible character LCDs work and when they are the right

Character LCDs based on the HD44780 controller normally require multiple data and control lines. This can quickly consume many GPIO pins on a microcontroller. An I2C adapter based on the PCF8574 solves this problem by reducing the connection to just two signal lines. This article explains how these adapters work and how to use them

7-segment displays are one of the simplest and most effective ways to display numbers in electronic projects. They are bright, easy to read and widely used in clocks, meters, counters and measurement devices. This article explains how 7-segment displays work, the different types available and how they are used in embedded systems. What Is a

Driving multi-digit 7-segment displays directly from a microcontroller can quickly become complex due to multiplexing, current control and timing requirements. Driver chips simplify this by handling most of the low-level work. This article explains how common driver chips work and compares CH423, TM1637 and MAX7219. Why Use a Driver Chip? A raw multi-digit 7-segment display

LED dot-matrix displays allow you to show text, symbols and simple graphics using a grid of LEDs. They are brighter than most LCD or OLED displays and are ideal for scrolling text, indicators and visible status displays. This article explains how LED matrix displays work and compares common driver solutions: MAX7219, TM1640 and IS31FL3731. What