/diː-eɪ-siː/
noun … “Converts digital signals to analog signals.”
DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter) is an electronic component or system that transforms digital data, typically represented as binary numbers, into a continuous analog signal. DACs are crucial in applications where digital information must interface with the physical world, such as audio playback, video display, instrumentation, and control systems.
Key characteristics of DAC include:
- Resolution: determines the number of discrete analog levels, often measured in bits (e.g., 12-bit, 16-bit).
- Sampling rate: defines how frequently digital values are converted to analog per second.
- Linearity: accuracy of output analog voltage relative to digital input.
- Output range: the voltage or current span the DAC can generate.
- Integration: may be embedded in microcontrollers, audio codecs, or used as standalone ICs.
Workflow example: Generating a sine wave using a DAC:
import math
for i in 0..255:
value = int(127 + 127 * math.sin(2 * 3.14159 * i / 256))
dac.write(value)
Here, digital samples of a sine wave are converted by the DAC into a continuous analog waveform, which can then drive speakers or other analog devices.
Conceptually, a DAC is like translating a digital music file into the vibrations of a speaker cone: the binary data defines the waveform, and the DAC produces the corresponding physical signal.
See ADC, Microcontroller, Signal Processing, Analog, Digital.