Header Pins (Male) Symbol
Definition: The Header Pins (Male) symbol represents a row of protruding male pin connectors — typically 2.54 mm pitch — used in schematics and wiring diagrams to denote a through-hole or surface-mount pin header that provides a mechanical and electrical interface between a PCB and another board, module, or cable, referenced under IEC 60617 and commonly designated J or P in ANSI/IEEE 315 schematics.
Also known as: pin header, male header, breakout connector, 0.1-inch header, 2.54 mm header, pin strip.
What the Header Pins (Male) symbol means
The Header Pins (Male) symbol denotes a single-row or multi-row array of metallic pins soldered to a PCB that mate with a corresponding female socket or Dupont connector. In a schematic, each pin in the header is numbered sequentially (Pin 1 through Pin N) and represents one electrical connection point, allowing signals, power, or ground to pass between boards or to a ribbon cable.
Header connectors are fundamental building blocks in hobbyist electronics (Arduino, Raspberry Pi, sensor breakout boards) and in professional embedded systems. The male header symbol in a wiring diagram tells a technician which board edge or connector row carries specific nets — power rails, SPI/I2C bus lines, GPIO — and in which physical order they appear.
How to identify the Header Pins (Male) symbol
The male header symbol is drawn as a rectangular outline divided into evenly spaced square or rectangular cells, each representing one pin, arranged in a single row (1×N) or double row (2×N). A small filled square or dot marks Pin 1, and each cell may carry a net label beside it. The overall block resembles a comb or a row of small squares joined side-by-side. In hobbyist schematic tools the symbol is often shown as a vertical column of numbered, equally-spaced square pads.
Function in a circuit
Male header pins provide a removable, soldered interconnect: each pin passes through or surface-mounts to a PCB, forming a permanent solder joint on one side while presenting a friction-fit metal post on the other side that accepts a female connector, ribbon-cable IDC crimp, or individual Dupont socket. This lets modules be stacked, swapped, or wired with jumper leads without soldering every connection.
Standards: IEC vs ANSI
| IEC 60617 | IEC 60617 does not assign a unique graphical symbol to generic pin headers; they are represented as connector symbols under the IEC 60617-08 (section 08 — connecting devices). The IEC convention shows connectors as a rectangle with labelled pin lines. |
|---|---|
| ANSI/IEEE 315 | ANSI/IEEE 315-1975 (section 5.5) covers connectors and uses a rectangular block with labelled pin stubs. The designator J (jack/receptacle) or P (plug/pin) is placed adjacent to the block; male headers carrying the active pins are typically designated P. |
| Key difference | IEC and ANSI/IEEE use visually similar rectangular connector blocks; the main difference is the designator convention — ANSI/IEEE distinguishes plug (P, male pins) from jack (J, female socket), while IEC uses X as the generic connector designator without mandating male/female letter distinction. |
Terminals / pins
| Pin | Name |
|---|---|
| p1 | Pin 1 |
| p2 | Pin 2 |
| p3 | Pin 3 |
| p4 | Pin 4 |
| p5 | Pin 5 |
Typical values
Standard pitch: 2.54 mm (0.1 in); also 2.0 mm and 1.27 mm. Pin count: 1×2 to 1×40 (single row) or 2×3 to 2×20 (double row). Rated current: 1–3 A per pin (2.54 mm, gold-plated). Contact resistance: <30 mΩ. Operating voltage: up to 250 V AC/DC.
Where the Header Pins (Male) symbol is used
- Arduino Uno / Nano shield connections: digital, analog, power and ICSP headers for stacking expansion shields
- Raspberry Pi 40-pin GPIO header linking SBCs to HAT add-on boards
- Sensor breakout boards (e.g., IMU, temperature, pressure modules) using 4-pin or 6-pin male headers for breadboard insertion
- JTAG and SWD programming headers (10-pin or 20-pin) on embedded MCU development boards
- BIOS/CMOS and front-panel headers on PC motherboards (power button, USB 2.0, fan connectors)
- Power distribution boards in drones and RC vehicles using 2-pin or 3-pin signal/servo headers
Example
On an Arduino Uno schematic, the 8-pin female socket at the top edge is driven by a corresponding 8-pin male header symbol (P1, pins 1–8) carrying net labels D8 through D13 plus GND and AREF; a jumper or shield plugs onto these male pins to access the digital I/O bus.
Key facts
- The male header symbol represents a row of solderable metal pins spaced at 2.54 mm (0.1 inch) pitch — the de facto standard for through-hole hobbyist connectors.
- In ANSI/IEEE 315 schematics, male pin connectors are designated with the letter P (plug); IEC 60617 uses the designator X for generic connectors.
- Pins in a header symbol are numbered sequentially from Pin 1 (often marked with a dot or square pad) and each pin carries one net label in the schematic.
- The Header Pins (Male) symbol has five labelled pins: Pin 1 (p1), Pin 2 (p2), Pin 3 (p3), Pin 4 (p4), and Pin 5 (p5), representing a 1×5 single-row header.
- Male headers mate with female Dupont sockets, IDC ribbon-cable crimps, or female PCB headers; the friction-fit contact allows repeated insertion and removal.
- Current ratings depend on pin pitch: 2.54 mm gold-plated pins typically handle 1–3 A per contact at low voltages suitable for logic and low-power supply lines.
- Double-row (2×N) male headers are used for high-density connections such as JTAG/SWD programming interfaces, LCD ribbon cables, and IDE/PATA hard-drive connectors.
- The 40-pin 2×20 male header on the Raspberry Pi GPIO is one of the most widely recognised header connector symbols in hobbyist and professional embedded schematics.
Diagrams that use this symbol
- ecu pinout diagrams
- 4440 ic board wiring diagram
- nodemcu pin diagram
- 7408 pin diagram
- esp32 circuit diagram
- ecu diagram
- 2030 ic board wiring diagram
- rfid diagram
Frequently asked questions
What does the male header pin symbol look like in a schematic?
The male header pin symbol appears as a rectangular block divided into evenly-spaced numbered cells, one per pin, arranged in a single row. A filled square or dot indicates Pin 1. Each cell has a line extending outward to carry a net label. The block resembles a row of small squares joined side by side.
What is the difference between a male header and a female header in a schematic?
A male header (designator P) carries protruding metal pins that plug into a female header or socket (designator J). In a schematic, both are drawn as labelled rectangular blocks, but the context or designator letter indicates which side is male versus female. The electrical connection is identical — the distinction matters only for physical assembly.
What designator letter is used for a male header connector?
In ANSI/IEEE 315 schematics, male connectors carrying pins (plugs) are typically designated P, while female connectors (jacks or sockets) are designated J. IEC 60617 uses X as the generic connector designator without a separate male/female distinction.
What pitch is a standard pin header?
The most common pin header pitch is 2.54 mm (0.1 inch), used on Arduino boards, breadboards, and most hobby modules. Compact variants use 2.0 mm or 1.27 mm pitch for smaller PCBs; some high-density connectors go down to 1.0 mm pitch.
How many pins does the header-male symbol have?
The specific Header Pins (Male) symbol in this catalogue is drawn as a 1×5 single-row header with five pins labelled Pin 1 through Pin 5. In practice, male headers range from 1×2 (2-pin) up to 1×40 (40-pin) single-row, or 2×3 to 2×20 double-row, depending on the application.
What standard defines connector symbols in schematics?
Connector symbols are defined in ANSI/IEEE 315-1975 (R1993) for North American schematics and in IEC 60617-08 (connecting devices) for international use. Both standards use rectangular block representations with labelled pin stubs; the main practical difference is the designator letter convention.
What circuits use male header connectors?
Male pin headers appear in Arduino and Raspberry Pi expansion interfaces, sensor module breakout boards, JTAG/SWD programming interfaces, PC motherboard front-panel and USB headers, and any system where boards or cables must be connected and disconnected repeatedly without soldering.
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