Analog circuits brought a breakthrough in technology, starting from the invention of the telephone. They made scientists understand the finer aspects of signal transmission and paved the way to develop digital circuits and signals.

On the other hand, digital circuits form the basis for most technological devices today, starting with computers. They transmit and process signals in binary format, that is, 0s and 1s. Since they are user-friendly and offer a better experience, they replace analog signals in most areas.

However, analog circuit technology remains relevant in certain fields even with modern developments.

Advantages of Analog circuit

Analog circuits, by definition, are electronic circuits that use a continuous voltage or current range. They use fundamental electronic components like resistors, diodes, transistors, and inductors to create signals.

The design is often complex and cumbersome to build by the average engineer. Unlike digital circuits, engineers can easily assemble the parts to create them. Therefore, it is quite rare to find an entirely analog circuit nowadays. Since the development of digital circuits, most analog circuits have incorporated digital components to improve signal processing.

Despite the obsolete nature of analog circuits, it has some advantages over digital circuits. Some of them include:

• Analog circuits require fewer components to process analog signals. One could improvise a few components to receive and process signals, unlike the digital circuits that need complete parts to receive and process their signals.
• Analog circuits are best for receiving and transmitting sensual data, like sound and video signals.
• Analog circuits detect physical phenomena like pressure, temperature, light, or position changes accurately.
• Analog signals require less bandwidth to transmit.

Analog signals present a lot of challenges in practical usage, though. Their quality tends to be quite unreliable over long distances, and they are more prone to distortion and noise than digital signals. Also, the quality of analog signals is often lesser than digital signals.

Advantages of Digital circuits

Digital circuits, as stated above, process and transmit signals in a discrete form that uses numbers, often in the binary system of 0s and 1s.

Digital circuits can also manipulate signals, depending on their complexity. The more complex digital signal processors can manipulate large amounts of data, like videos. Digital circuits are also instrumental in transmitting data from one point to several other points in the form of electromagnetic waves.

Digital circuits are ubiquitous because they are easy to design and build, even though the components could be more expensive. Some of the other key benefits include:

• Digital signals are well suited for long distances.
• Digital circuits are easy to reproduce over a short while, unlike analog circuits that require time and expertise to assemble.
• Digital signals can be stored in semiconductor chips, compressed, or encrypted, making them more secure than analog signals.
• Digital signals are more resistant to distortion and noise than analog signals.
• Digital circuits and systems are accurate. By writing error detection codes in their instruction set, one could upgrade their accuracy.

Digital signal processing also has its demerits, although they might not be as significant. The processing system requires a lot of power to work optimally. Hence, they tend to dissipate huge amounts of heat. Also, while they are easy to assemble, processing digital signals are super complex.

In conclusion, the two major forms of electronic circuits have their benefits and demerits. Most electronic companies combine the two systems to achieve a better approach to signal processing in general.