Co-Authored By:

Asked by: Lyndsey Fairbairn
home and garden home entertainingWhat is the difference between common anode and cathode?
In this way, which is better common anode or cathode?
The only difference is the driver circuit. 7 (or 8withdecimal point) cathode drivers are needed per digit andoneanode driver. If the digits are multiplexed, and thereareless than 7–8 digits, common cathode isbetter.With more than 8 multiplexed digits, commonanode isbetter.
Subsequently, question is, what is the difference between common anode and common cathode 7 segment display?
The difference between the two displaysisthe common cathode has all the cathodes ofthe7-segments connected directly together andthecommon anode has all the anodes ofthe7-segments connected together. Shown below isacommon anode seven segment.
A 7-segment is a packaged set of 8 LEDs(7number-segments & 1 decimal point). Common anodemeansthat the anode (positive) side of all of the LEDsareelectrically connected at one pin, and each LED cathodehasits own pin.