This document is designed to provide definitions for terms commonly used in the electronics industry which have meanings specific to electronics. The definitions are intended to provide sufficient clarity of detail such that a reader utilizing English as a second language could understand the subtleties of the meaning. Terms listed here are those which have a generic usage across multiple disciplines. Terms which have a specialized meaning or usage within a single IPC document should be defined within that document. Commonly used English language terms which do not change meaning when applied to electronics are not defined here.

Acronyms commonly used in electronics are defined in Appendix A. Classification Codes, the numbers following the terms, are listed in Appendix C and discussed in Appendix B.

Note: Changes made to this revision of the IPC-T-50 are indicated throughout by gray-shading of the term and definition.