Surface mount technology (SMT) is a method for constructing electronic circuits in which the components
(SMC, or Surface Mounted Components) are mounted directly onto the surface of printed circuit boards
(PCBs). Electronic devices so made are called surface-mount devices or SMDs. In the industry it has
largely replaced the previous construction method of fitting components with wire leads into holes in the
circuit board (also called through-hole technology).

An SMT component is usually smaller than its leaded counterpart because it has no leads or smaller leads.
It may have short pins or leads of various styles, flat contacts, a matrix of balls (BGAs), or terminations on
the body of the component (passives).