Internally, most pcb commands use a common interface to connect to the GUI, scripts, and user requests. We call these internal commands actions, because they are actions that pcb can take. Each action [..]

annular ring The donut-shaped ring of copper that surrounds the hole of a pin or via. In PCB, the size of a pin or via is the overall diameter of the copper, not the distance from the outer edge of th [..]

In reference to RS-274X files, an aperture is a brush shape used to draw things. Originally, the aperture was a physical hole of a specific shape and size through which light exposed a photographic fi [..]

A curved trace drawn on a drawing layer.

Varied meanings. Elements and boards may have attributes assigned to them, which are arbitrary mappings between a name and its value. PCB does not currently use those attributes itself. Within pcb an [..]

The most that the copper areas can be expanded before they are allowed to touch. For example, two 40 mil lines 10 mil apart can bloat up to (but not including) 5 mil before they touch, so the maximum [..]

The physical printed circuit board that is depicted by your layout. “Board” refers to the physical board, “layout” refers to the electronic data.

A temporary storage location within pcb where items can be stored until needed later. One such buffer is used for the common cut-and-paste operations.

A thin layer of copper attached to a thin layer of insulator. Once etched, the remaining copper forms the electrical connections described by the layout file.

The distance beween the copper around a hole (the annulus) and the copper in the surrounding polygon, or between any other copper item (line or arc) and a surrounding polygon.