How PCBWiki verifies claims

What we verify and what we do not

PCBWiki’s verification is limited to what the manufacturer’s own published datasheet states. We check key specifications, pin functions, absolute maximum ratings, and recommended operating conditions against the datasheet revision current at the time of verification. We do not run independent electrical characterization, and we do not verify claims that the datasheet itself does not make.

Every part page carries a verifiedDatethat records when the datasheet was last checked. We also list the exact sources we consulted, including the datasheet revision where available. These are linked directly to the manufacturer’s own domain; PCBWiki never re-hosts datasheets.

Source preferences

We prefer the manufacturer’s own published datasheet as the primary source. When a datasheet is available in multiple revisions, we cite the revision we verified. When a manufacturer publishes a product page alongside a datasheet, we may cite both when they carry complementary information.

For comparison pages that cite third-party product pages (pricing, features, terms), we link to the vendor’s own domain and archive a snapshot to the Wayback Machine at verification time. Every factual claim on a comparison page is backed by a specific, named source.

Revisions, access dates, and archived copies

For part pages, the verifiedDate records when we last checked the datasheet against the specifications on the page. Comparison page footnotes include a verification date and an archived copy link so a reader can inspect the exact page we saw.

Manufacturers can and do revise datasheets without notice. A specification that was accurate at verification time may change in a later revision. Always confirm the current datasheet revision before production use. PCBWiki does not claim to track every revision in real time.

Volatile claims

Pricing, feature lists, and terms of service on comparison pages are inherently volatile. We cite the specific page and date we verified, and we archive a snapshot. We review comparison pages periodically, but a reader should always check the vendor’s current page before making a purchasing decision.

Manufacturer fact vs PCBWiki interpretation vs community experience

PCBWiki distinguishes three layers of information on every part page:

• Manufacturer fact.Specifications drawn directly from the datasheet, always cited with a section or table reference. The “Key specifications” table on each part page is limited to manufacturer fact.
• PCBWiki interpretation.Assessments that draw on datasheet information but add engineering judgment. The “What breaks boards” section and the “PCBWiki’s read” callouts on comparison pages are interpretations. They are clearly labeled as such.
• Community experience.Guides and articles from independent authors that we link to in the “Good guides from the community” section. These are not verified by PCBWiki; we include them because we found them useful and we think readers will too.

Correction handling

PCBWiki welcomes corrections. If you find an error in a specification, a missing gotcha, or a datasheet revision that supersedes the one we verified, we want to fix it.

Our correction process is designed to be reversible and non-mutating. When a correction is submitted, we verify it against the manufacturer’s current datasheet before publishing an update. We do not delete or overwrite the previous version; we update the page with the corrected information and record the change. If a correction cannot be confirmed against the datasheet, we note the discrepancy and cite the evidence we have.

To submit a correction, see the correction link on any technical page. Correction instructions are published on this page and linked from part pages, comparison pages, and the site footer. Corrections are handled through our existing public contact method and do not expose a new email address or public write API.

Organization and editorial workflow

PCBWiki is an independent project. Part pages are researched, written, and verified by a single editor. Every page carries a verification date and is linked to the exact datasheet revision used. We are not affiliated with any component manufacturer, and we do not accept paid placement or sponsored content.

New part pages are added when a part is commonly used, has a publicly available manufacturer datasheet, and presents enough engineering gotchas to be worth documenting. We do not publish unverified pages. A part that appears in the category listing but does not yet have a page has been queued for research; the page will publish when verification is complete.

Affiliate independence

PCBWiki participates in the Amazon Associates program. Affiliate links appear only on learning resource pages (books and bench tools), never on part pages or comparison pages. Compensation does not influence which parts we cover, which specifications we highlight, or which alternatives we recommend. Our editorial judgment is independent of any affiliate relationship.

We do not link to component distributors, and we do not earn commissions on part purchases. The only monetized links on PCBWiki are book and tool recommendations where the recommendation itself is the editorial judgment and the affiliate link is a supplementary funding mechanism.