stripboards

Stripboard, also known as stripboard or Veroboard, is a prototyping board used for electronics. It consists of a grid of holes with parallel copper strips on one side that connect the holes into rows. Each strip is electrically continuous unless cut. Holes are typically spaced at 2.54 mm (0.1 inch) to suit standard through-hole components.

The copper strips run in one direction across the board, creating long nets. To isolate sections or create different nets, a line of copper along a strip is cut with a sharp knife or hobby saw; sometimes users cut entire tracks between holes across multiple rows. Components are inserted through the holes and soldered on the copper side. Connections between non-adjacent holes are made with short wires or component leads.

Using stripboard is straightforward for simple circuits. Plan the layout, place components on the board, and then solder. It is common to use jumpers to cross gaps where copper tracks cannot be shortened or for breaks in the tracks. Alternatively, some designs use bridging wires to connect isolated sections.

Advantages include low cost, ease of use for simple designs, and broad availability in various sizes; it does not require complex fabrication. Disadvantages include limited density and difficulty with compact, high-speed, or high-frequency circuits; track cutting requires care to avoid shorts; repairing or modifying can be less flexible than modern printed circuit boards.

Stripboard variants exist from multiple manufacturers, with different track patterns and materials. The most widely known variant is Veroboard, a brand name that has become synonymous with stripboard in hobby electronics. By contrast, perfboard uses isolated pads rather than continuous strips.