A shield is a development board add-on designed to extend the functionality of popular prototyping platforms such as Arduino, Raspberry Pi, or other single-board computers (SBCs). Shields make it possible to quickly add modules such as displays, sensors, communication interfaces, or motor drivers without designing a custom PCB. Thanks to standardized connector layouts, they simplify prototyping and testing, especially in engineering, educational, and hobbyist environments. In industrial applications, shields are usually replaced by dedicated modules, but in development contexts, the term “shield” remains a standard.
Shield (Development Board Add-On)
A shield is an add-on board that plugs into prototyping platforms such as Arduino or Raspberry Pi to add displays, sensors or interfaces without a custom PCB.
Also known as: Arduino shield, shield board, HAT
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