# 7 Segment Display

**URL:** <https://forumautomation.com/t/7-segment-display/13152>\
**Category:** Electronics\
**Tags:** display\
**Created:** [April 10, 2025, 10:16am UTC](https://forumautomation.com/t/7-segment-display/13152 "2025-04-10T10:16:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Rabert](https://forumautomation.com/user_avatar/forumautomation.com/rabert/32/6784_2.png) [@Rabert](https://forumautomation.com/u/Rabert)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2025, 10:16am UTC](https://forumautomation.com/t/7-segment-display/13152/1 "2025-04-10T10:16:48Z")

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> # 7 Segment Display

**A 7-segment display is an electronic display device that employs 7 LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) placed in a certain arrangement to show numerals and characters by lighting up various combinations of segments.**

> # Types of Seven Segment Display

**There are two types of seven segment displays**

1. **Common Anode Display**

2. **Common Cathode Display**

 ![image](https://cdn.forumautomation.com/original/2X/7/7cc07b0d20ebdd6079d4d13d1f541764cd19c7db.jpeg)

> # 1). Common Anode Display

**In a common anode display, all of the anode terminals from eight light emitting diodes are connected to a 5 volt power source.**

**In normal conditions, our microcontroller sends logic high to each segment. As a result, each section either stays off (or) does not illuminate.**

**Similarly, when we wish to turn on a certain LED in a seven-segment display, we send a logic low signal.**

**Because an LED illuminates only when there is a logic high signal on the anode side and a logic low signal on the cathode side, as is the case with a common anode type display.**

> # 2). Common Cathode Display

**In a common cathode segment display, the cathodes of all eight light emitting diodes are connected to the ground.**

**To switch off any of the seven segments, we apply logic low from the microcontroller to that section.**

**Similarly, to turn on a particular LED in a seven-segment device, we send a logic high signal from the microcontroller’s digital output pin.**

**Because an LED illuminates only when there is a logic high signal on the anode side and a logic low signal on the cathode side, as is the case with a common cathode type display.**