Photonics vs. Electronics — What's the Difference?

The science of generating, detecting, and manipulating light.

The science and technology of electronic devices and circuits.

The study of devices that emit, modulate, and detect light.

The branch of physics and technology focused on circuits and signals.

The branch of physics encompassing the behavior of photons.

A field dealing with devices that control the flow of electrons.

A field focused on the properties and applications of photons.

The design and application of devices and systems involving electrons.

The technology of using light to perform functions typically done by electrons.

The study of electron movement, primarily in solid-state devices.

The study or application of electromagnetic energy whose basic unit is the photon, using technology such as optics, lasers and other light sources, fiber optics, electrical engineering, and materials science in numerous applications including communications, electrical engineering, materials science, and information storage and processing.

(used with a sing. verb) The science and technology of electronic phenomena.

(sciences) The science and technology of generating and controlling photons, particularly in the visible and near infrared light spectrum.

(used with a pl. verb) Electronic devices and systems

(physics) The study and use of electrical devices that operate by controlling the flow of electrons or other electrically charged particles or by converting the flow of charged particles to or from other forms of energy.

(in the plural) A device or devices which require the flow of electrons through conductors and semiconductors in order to perform their function; devices that operate on electrical power (battery or outlet)

Electronic circuitry.

The branch of physics that deals with the behavior of electrons. Electronics is primarily concerned with phenomena other than simple conduction, such as emission of electrons, storage of electrical charge, the effects of electrical fields on the conduction of electrons through a circuit, and amplification and manipulation of electric signals such as voltage or current by design of circuits. Electronics also encompasses the application of such fundamental principles to the construction of devices using the manipulation of electrons in their operation, known as electronic devices.

The branch of engineering concerned with design of devices using the principles of electronics, for practical purposes.

Electronic devices generally, or the electronic circuits within an electronic device.

The branch of physics that deals with the emission and effects of electrons and with the use of electronic devices

Yes, especially in devices like optoelectronic components that combine principles from both fields.

Photonics focuses on the generation, detection, and manipulation of photons or light particles.

Electronics is foundational to most modern technologies, from computers to phones.

Photonics is fundamental to fiber-optic communications.

Electronics mainly deals with currents and voltages.

No, transistors are electronic devices and are a part of Electronics.

Electronics powers a myriad of everyday devices, from TVs to smartphones.

Laser surgeries and optical imaging are Photonics applications in medicine.

Electronics has a more extended history and broader range of applications.

Electronics revolves around the movement and control of electrons, mainly in solid-state devices.

Yes, lasers are a core technology in the field of Photonics.

While Photonics technologies primarily focus on light, many systems integrate electronic components for control and data processing.

Yes, optical computing is a potential application area for Photonics.

Photonics offers promising advancements in computing, especially in high-speed data transfer, but it's seen as complementary to Electronics.

Yes, many electronic devices operate without Photonics, but integrating the two can lead to enhanced performance in certain applications.