Headers are like the duct tape of electronics. They're great for connecting things together, using breadboards to build up a circuit, soldering to perf-boards, or preparing boards for plug-in components like servos or sensors. 

Using headers with your microcontroller can make your life much easier, but soldering them on can be a little intimidating to beginners. There are a lot of ways to get it wrong, and once a header is soldered onto a board it's difficult or impossible to get it off again. 

This guide will teach an easy and reliable way to attach your headers, with tips for getting them on straight and accurate, so you can move on with your project with confidence. It will also give advice about pitfalls to avoid, and what to do when you get them on wrong.

You might also enjoy a look through Adafruit's Guide to Excellent Soldering, if you're just getting started.

Parts mentioned in this guide

5 pieces of Extra-long break-away 0.1 inch 16-pin strip male header
Breakaway header is like the duct tape of electronics, and this header is one better with extra long pins on both sides. This makes it great for connecting things together that...
$3.00
In Stock
pack of five, 36-pin 0.1 inch Female header
Female header is like the duct tape of electronics. Its great for connecting things together, soldering to perf-boards, sockets for wires or break-away header, etc. We go through these...
$2.95
In Stock
Front view shot of Shield stacking headers for Arduino in various sizes.
“How could something so simple be so useful?” We heard once that in the 4th millennium B.C. some guy asked the person...
$1.95
In Stock
Angled shot of half-size solderless breadboard with red and black power lines.
This is a cute, half-size breadboard with 400 tie points, good for small projects. It's 3.25" x 2.2" / 8.3cm x 5.5cm with a standard double-strip in the...
$4.95
In Stock
Adjustable 30W 110V soldering iron with US 3-prong power cord
This 'pen-style' soldering iron is just about the best entry-level tool I've seen. It's not as powerful as a Weller WES51 but it is self-contained and easy to...
$22.00
In Stock

This guide was first published on Nov 04, 2020. It was last updated on Mar 08, 2024.

This page (Overview) was last updated on Mar 08, 2024.

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