Computer Hardware Terms, Glossary and Dictionary

Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor (MOSFET) is a field effect transistor in both digital and analog circuits. The MOSFET is composed of a channel of n-type or p-type semiconductor material, and is accordingly called an NMOSFET or a PMOSFET. The width of the channel, which determines how well the device conducts, is controlled by an electrode called the gate, separated from channel by a thin layer of oxide insulation. The insulation keeps current from flowing between the gate and channel. IGFET is a related term meaning Insulated-Gate Field-Effect Transistor, and is almost synonymous with "MOSFET", though it can refer to FETs with a gate insulator that is not oxide.

Related Terms

MOSFET: Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor