# MicroPython Hardware: Digital I/O ## Overview Warning: Note this guide was written for MicroPython.org firmware and not Adafruit CircuitPython firmware. Info: This guide was written for older MicroPython versions. Please see current MicroPython documentation for the latest usage. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/035/373/medium800/microcontrollers_IMG_5147.jpg?1472803814) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kVW8yffe0c Digital I/O, or input/output, is one of the most basic ways to talk to hardware.  We say 'digital' because it only deals with **on** or  **off** values and nothing in-between.  For example with digital I/O a LED can be turned completely on and completely off repeatedly to blink.  Or using digital I/O you can read when a switch or button is moved on or off.  With just a few lines of MicroPython code you'll be a master of digital I/O in no time. This guide explores how to use digital I/O pins with MicroPython.  You'll see how to control a LED using a digital output pin, and read a pushbutton using a digital input pin.  These basic digital I/O examples can serve as the starting point for more complex and interesting projects that use hardware like LEDs, buttons, switches, relays, transistors, and even simple digital sensors! Before you get started you'll want to be familiar with the basics of using MicroPython by reading these guides: - [MicroPython Basics: What is MicroPython?](../../../../micropython-basics-what-is-micropython/overview) - [MicroPython Basics: How to Load MicroPython on a Board](../../../../micropython-basics-how-to-load-micropython-on-a-board) - [MicroPython Basics: Blink a LED](../../../../micropython-basics-blink-a-led/overview) - [MicroPython Basics: Load Files & Run Code](../../../../micropython-basics-load-files-and-run-code/overview) - [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/micropython-hardware-digital-i-slash-o/digital-outputs.md) ## Featured Products ### Adafruit Parts Pal [Adafruit Parts Pal](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2975) [LEDs](https://www.adafruit.com/categories/90) and [passives](https://www.adafruit.com/categories/156) and [transistors](https://www.adafruit.com/categories/153) and [switches](https://www.adafruit.com/categories/155) and op-amps oh my! The... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2975) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2975/guides) ### MicroPython pyboard [MicroPython pyboard](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2390) The **pyboard** is a compact and powerful electronics development board that runs MicroPython. It connects to your PC over USB, giving you a USB flash drive to save your Python scripts, and a serial Python prompt (a REPL) for instant programming. Requires a micro USB cable, and... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2390) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2390/guides) ### Adafruit Feather HUZZAH with ESP8266 - Loose Headers [Adafruit Feather HUZZAH with ESP8266 - Loose Headers](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2821) Feather is the new development board from Adafruit, and like its namesake, it is thin, light, and lets you fly! We designed Feather to be a new standard for portable microcontroller cores. This is the  **Adafruit Feather HUZZAH ESP8266**  - our take on an... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2821) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2821/guides) ### Adafruit HUZZAH ESP8266 Breakout [Adafruit HUZZAH ESP8266 Breakout](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2471) Add Internet to your next project with an adorable, bite-sized WiFi microcontroller, at a price you like! The ESP8266 processor from Espressif is an 80 MHz microcontroller with a full WiFi front-end (both as client and access point) and TCP/IP stack with DNS support as well. While this chip... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2471) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2471/guides) ### ESP8266 WiFi Module [ESP8266 WiFi Module](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2282) This interesting module is a lot of fun for hobbyists and students who are interested in experimenting with the ESP8266 WiFi chipset. We bought a bunch of these modules, updated the firmware to the much-easier-to-use v0.924 and wrote some Arduino code to grab a webpage. We do not... No Longer Stocked [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2282) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2282/guides) ### WiPy 1.0 - IoT Development Platform [WiPy 1.0 - IoT Development Platform](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3184) The **WiPy** is an enterprise grade IOT development platform
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