Digital I/O, or input/output, is one of the most basic ways to talk to hardware. We say ‘digital’ because it only deals with on or off values and nothing in-between. For example with digital I/O a LED can be turned completely on and completely off repeatedly to blink. Or using digital I/O you can read when a switch or button is moved on or off. With just a few lines of MicroPython code you’ll be a master of digital I/O in no time.
This guide explores how to use digital I/O pins with MicroPython. You’ll see how to control a LED using a digital output pin, and read a pushbutton using a digital input pin. These basic digital I/O examples can serve as the starting point for more complex and interesting projects that use hardware like LEDs, buttons, switches, relays, transistors, and even simple digital sensors!
Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
Have an amazing project to share? The Electronics Show and Tell is every Wednesday at 7pm ET! To join, head over to YouTube and check out the show’s live chat – we’ll post the link there.
