A trace is a line of copper carrying a signal or current from point to point on one layer. Its width and thickness set current capacity and resistance, its width and height above the reference plane set impedance, and its spacing to neighbours sets crosstalk and voltage withstand. IPC-2152 charts give current against temperature rise for different widths and copper weights.
Bump that 5 V trace to 40 mils, it's carrying two amps and at 10 mils it'll cook.
European designers and many CAD tools say track; North American designers say trace.
Also heard as
- track
- conductor
- line
Related terms
Impedance control
Designing and building traces to a target impedance, such as 50 or 100 ohms, within a set tolerance.
Copper weight
Thickness of copper on a board layer, expressed as ounces of copper per square foot.
Clearance
Minimum spacing between copper features of different nets, or between copper and the board edge or holes.
Differential pair
Two traces carrying equal and opposite signals, routed tightly together at matched length and impedance.