# MicroPython Hardware: SPI Devices ## Overview Danger: Warning: ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/035/633/medium800/microcontrollers_IMG_5162.jpg?1473315948) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkvIszP5WBo [Serial peripheral interface](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_Peripheral_Interface_Bus), or SPI, is a protocol for two devices to send and receive data.  For example a LCD display might use a SPI interface to receive pixel data, or a temperature sensor might use SPI to send readings to a microcontroller.  With MicroPython you can use the SPI protocol to talk to devices and write scripts that interface with interesting hardware! This guide will explore how to use SPI with MicroPython.  In particular MicroPython on the ESP8266 will be used to talk to a simple SPI device, the [MAX31855 thermocouple temperature sensor](https://www.adafruit.com/product/269).  You'll learn how to create a SPI interface, and send and receive data over that interface.  With just the basics of sending and receiving SPI data you can start to write your own MicroPython code that interacts with other interesting SPI devices! 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-spi-devices/spi-main.md) ## Featured Products ### Thermocouple Amplifier MAX31855 breakout board (MAX6675 upgrade) [Thermocouple Amplifier MAX31855 breakout board (MAX6675 upgrade)](https://www.adafruit.com/product/269) Thermocouples are very sensitive, requiring a good amplifier with a cold-compensation reference. The MAX31855K does everything for you, and can be easily interfaced with any microcontroller, even one without an analog input. This breakout board has the chip itself, a 3.3V regulator with 10uF... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/269) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/269/guides) ### Thermocouple Type-K Glass Braid Insulated [Thermocouple Type-K Glass Braid Insulated](https://www.adafruit.com/product/270) Thermocouples are best used for measuring temperatures that can go above 100 °C. This is a bare wires bead-probe which can measure air or surface temperatures. Most inexpensive thermocouples have a vinyl covering which can melt at around 200 °C, this one uses a fiberglass braid so it... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/270) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/270/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) ### 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
 that runs Python in real time with the perfect blend of power, speed, friendliness, and flexibility. Within a few minutes you can wirelessly connect to it and get a Python REPL command line. In addition to... No Longer Stocked [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3184) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3184/guides) ### Teensy 3.2 + header [Teensy 3.2 + header](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2756) [Teensy](http://www.pjrc.com/teensy/index.html) 3.2 is a small, breadboard-friendly development board designed by Paul Stoffregen and PJRC. Teensy 3.2 brings a low-cost 32 bit ARM Cortex-M4 platform to hobbyists, students and engineers, using an adapted version of the... No Longer Stocked [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2756) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2756/guides) ## Related Guides - [Adafruit Feather HUZZAH ESP8266](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-feather-huzzah-esp8266.md) - [Adding a WiFi Co-Processor to CircuitPython](https://learn.adafruit.com/adding-a-wifi-co-processor-to-circuitpython-esp8266-esp32.md) - [WiFi Music Alert Box ](https://learn.adafruit.com/wifi-music-alert-box.md) - [Adafruit 1-Wire Thermocouple Amplifier - MAX31850K](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-1-wire-thermocouple-amplifier-max31850k.md) - [WiFi OLED Display Badge](https://learn.adafruit.com/digital-display-badge.md) - [Building and Running MicroPython on the ESP8266](https://learn.adafruit.com/building-and-running-micropython-on-the-esp8266.md) - [Remote controlled door lock using a fingerprint sensor & Adafruit IO](https://learn.adafruit.com/remote-controlled-door-lock-using-a-fingerprint-sensor-and-adafruit-io.md) - [Adafruit IO Basics: ESP8266 + Arduino](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-io-basics-esp8266-arduino.md) - [Fair Weather Friend: Internet-Connected Migraine or Allergies Detector](https://learn.adafruit.com/fair-weather-friend-internet-connected-health-and-leisure-forecaster.md) - [Automatic Twitch On-Air Sign](https://learn.adafruit.com/automatic-twitch-on-air-sign.md) - [ESP8266 WiFi Weather Station with Color TFT Display](https://learn.adafruit.com/wifi-weather-station-with-tft-display.md) - [Remote Control with the Huzzah + Adafruit.io](https://learn.adafruit.com/remote-control-with-the-huzzah-plus-adafruit-io.md) - [Adafruit IO Basics: Servo](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-io-basics-servo.md) - [MicroPython Basics: What is MicroPython?](https://learn.adafruit.com/micropython-basics-what-is-micropython.md) - [All the Internet of Things - Episode Two: Protocols](https://learn.adafruit.com/alltheiot-protocols.md) - [UART Communication Between Two CircuitPython Boards](https://learn.adafruit.com/uart-communication-between-two-circuitpython-boards.md)