Prototyping Boards: How to Choose the Right Type

Whether you’re building your first electronics project or refining a complex design, prototyping boards are essential tools for circuit development. From early methods like Veroboard and perfboard to modern PCB prototype boards for surface-mount components, the range of available options has expanded significantly.

In this guide, we cover the different types of prototype circuit boards, the tools you’ll need, and how to choose the best board for your needs.

What Are Prototyping Boards?

Prototyping boards are platforms used to build, test, and modify electronic circuits before finalizing them on a printed circuit board prototype. They allow experimentation without committing to a full production design, making them invaluable during early development stages.

There are several types of board prototypes, each with its own structure, connection method, and best use case. These include prototyping breadboards, stripboards, perfboards, and various types of PCB prototype boards for through-hole and surface-mount devices.

Common Types of Prototyping Boards

There are many different types of prototyping boards for electronics. Here we cover breadboards, Veroboards / stripboards, perfboard, solderable breadboard, SMD prototype board, and custom printed circuit boards.

1. Prototyping Breadboard

• Use: Quick, solderless circuit testing
• Connection: Spring-loaded contact strips
• Advantages:
  • Reusable and fast
  • Ideal for beginners
• Disadvantages:
  • Limited current capacity
  • Not suitable for permanent setups

A half-size breadboard is shown on the left, and a miniature breadboard is shown on the right in the image below. Both can be used for building prototype electronic circuits.

2. Veroboard / Stripboard

The following image shows the bottom copper tracks of Veroboard / stripboard.

• Use: Semi-permanent soldered prototypes
• Connection: Copper strips running in parallel
• Tools Needed: Soldering iron, wire cutters, strip cutter
• Advantages:
  • Widely available and inexpensive
  • Good for moderate complexity circuits
• Disadvantages:
  • Cutting tracks can be time-consuming
  • Limited layout flexibility

3. Perfboard (Perf Board)

• Use: Custom layouts for through-hole components
• Connection: Individual pads per hole
• Tools Needed: Soldering iron, jumper wires
• Advantages:
  • Full design flexibility
  • Great for small-scale builds
• Disadvantages:
  • Slower to assemble than stripboard
  • No built-in track system

Below is an example of a perfboard. There are many different types of perfboard from different manufacturers. This is just one example.

4. Solderable Breadboard

• Use: Converting breadboard layouts to soldered form
• Connection: Mimics breadboard row/column layout
• Advantages:
  • Easy transition from breadboard
  • Preserves layout structure
• Disadvantages:
  • Limited to breadboard-compatible designs

An example of a solderable prototype board is shown below. This particular example is a solderable Arduino Uno compatible shield. It has PCB tracks near the middle that are laid out in the shape of a solderable breadboard of the miniature type.

This is just one example of a solderable prototype board / solderable breadboard. There are many other types and layouts available. For example there are solderable breadboards that are the same size as full-size and half-size breadboards. These are useful for making breadboard circuits permanent.

5. SMD Prototype Board / Surface Mount Prototype Board

Notice in the previous image that at the top left of the prototype Arduino Uno shield board, there is space for a surface mount component. This is where the text “SOIC” is silk screened onto the board. This is an example of a prototype board that a SMD component can be soldered to.

• Use: Prototyping with surface-mount devices (SMDs)
• Connection: Fine pads for SMD components
• Tools Needed: Precision tweezers, fine-tip soldering iron or hot air rework station
• Advantages:
  • Compact circuit designs
  • Matches modern component packaging
• Disadvantages:
  • Requires more skill and tools
  • Components not reusable

An example of SMD prototype boards / surface mount prototype boards is shown below. These boards are for soldering a particular surface mount chip. This gives easy access to the pins of the chips that are connected to the pads around the edge of each board. This type of SMD prototype board is known as a breakout board.

SMD prototype boards are available in many shapes and forms to accommodate surface mount components of various types. Once soldered to one of these boards, the pins of the surface mount components are easily accessed. In some cases they can have pins soldered underneath and be used directly in a breadboard, stripboard or perfboard.

6. Custom PCB Prototype

• Use: Final prototyping before production
• Connection: Professionally fabricated printed circuit board prototype
• Advantages:
  • Accurate to final product
  • Suitable for testing functionality and layout
• Disadvantages:
  • Higher cost and longer lead time
  • Not ideal for early experimentation

Tools Needed for Different Prototyping Boards

Tips for Prototyping Boards

• Plan your layout before soldering on stripboard or perfboard to avoid crowded or overlapping connections.
• Use color-coded jumper wires on breadboards for clarity.
• Always keep a desoldering tool or braid handy to correct mistakes.
• For rapid PCB prototyping, consider services that offer fast turnaround for low-cost PCB prototype boards.
• Test on a prototyping breadboard before committing to a solderable breadboard or perfboard version.

Did You Know About Prototyping Boards?

• The Veroboard, one of the earliest mass-produced prototyping boards, was patented in the 1960s and is still widely used today.
• Breadboards were originally wooden boards where components were nailed and wired, a far cry from the modern prototyping breadboards we use today.
• Some modern surface mount prototype boards allow mixing SMD and through-hole components on the same board.
• Early hobbyists would sometimes repurpose materials like metal can lids to build early prototype circuit boards.

Frequently Asked Questions About Prototyping Boards

What is the best prototyping board for beginners?

The prototyping breadboard is ideal for beginners due to its solderless design, allowing quick and easy testing of simple circuits.

Can I use Veroboard for surface-mount components?

No, not directly. Veroboard is designed for through-hole components. Use a surface mount prototype board or SMD prototype board for surface-mount parts. If you use a breakout board for a surface mount component that pins can be soldered to, then the breakout board can likely be soldered to a Veroboard.

What is the difference between perfboard and stripboard?

Perfboard has isolated pads per hole, offering flexible layout but requiring more wiring. Stripboard has parallel copper tracks, simplifying layout but requiring track cutting.

How do I make a printed circuit board prototype?

Use schematic and layout software to design the board, then send it to a rapid PCB prototyping service or etch it yourself for a DIY PCB prototype.

Can I use a breadboard for permanent projects?

No. Breadboards are for temporary testing. For permanent builds, use a solderable breadboard, perfboard, or a custom PCB prototype board.

Is perfboard reusable?

Not usually. Once components are soldered and trimmed, removing and reusing them without damaging the perfboard is difficult.

What’s the best method for fast prototyping?

Combine a breadboard for initial testing with a solderable breadboard or PCB prototype for refined versions. For final testing, use a custom printed circuit board prototype.

Conclusion

Understanding the variety of prototyping boards available is essential for any electronics enthusiast or engineer. Whether you’re starting with a prototyping breadboard, experimenting on Veroboard, or working with an advanced PCB prototype board, choosing the right platform will speed up development and reduce frustration.

By selecting the correct tools and methods for your board prototype, you can bring your designs to life more efficiently and accurately.

For hands-on electronics learning and practical project development, prototyping boards remain a foundational part of the design process.

If you’re new to electronics and want to build a strong foundation, explore more beginner-friendly tutorials in our Getting Started section.