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RF Glossary

Definitions covering every term, acronym, and concept in RF, microwave, and millimeter wave engineering.

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Explore terms organized by engineering discipline. Each category groups related definitions to help you quickly find what you need.

Antennas & Propagation
200+ TERMS
Antenna gain, beamwidth, EIRP, feedhorn, polarization, FSPL, Friis equation, radiation pattern, sidelobe, cross-pol...
Amplifiers & Active Devices
180+ TERMS
LNA, PA, MMIC, P1dB, IP3, gain, noise figure, compression, intermodulation, linearity, GaN, GaAs, SiGe...
Waveguide & Transmission Lines
250+ TERMS
Cutoff frequency, dominant mode, WR designation, flange, transition, coaxial cable, microstrip, stripline...
Filters & Passive Components
200+ TERMS
Bandpass, lowpass, highpass, insertion loss, rejection, coupler, diplexer, power divider, circulator, isolator...
Frequency Conversion
150+ TERMS
Mixer, upconverter, downconverter, BUC, LNB, IF, LO, image frequency, spur, conversion loss, sideband...
Measurements & Parameters
200+ TERMS
S-parameters, VSWR, return loss, dBm, dBW, dBi, Smith chart, impedance, phase noise, group delay, EVM...
Satellite & Communications
180+ TERMS
Link budget, EIRP, G/T, transponder, uplink, downlink, VSAT, LEO, GEO, modulation, BER, SNR, C/N...
Radar & Sensing
120+ TERMS
Radar cross section, pulse width, PRF, Doppler, phased array, beamforming, FMCW, range resolution...
Materials & Manufacturing
100+ TERMS
Skin depth, OFHC copper, dielectric constant, loss tangent, gold plating, CNC machining, EDM, surface finish...
Most Referenced

Popular Terms

The most frequently searched RF engineering definitions. These terms appear in nearly every RF design, specification, and datasheet.

VSWRVoltage Standing Wave Ratio. The ratio of maximum to minimum voltage in a standing wave pattern on a transmission line.→ Noise FigureA measure of the degradation in signal-to-noise ratio caused by a component or system, expressed in dB.→ dBmDecibels referenced to one milliwatt. An absolute power measurement where 0 dBm = 1 mW.→ S-ParametersScattering parameters. A matrix describing the electrical behavior of an RF network in terms of incident and reflected waves.→ EIRPEffective Isotropic Radiated Power. The product of transmitter power and antenna gain in a given direction.→ Insertion LossThe reduction in signal power caused by inserting a device into a transmission path. Measured in dB.→ Return LossThe ratio of incident power to reflected power at a port, expressed in dB. Higher values indicate better matching.→ ImpedanceThe opposition to alternating current flow in a circuit, expressed in ohms. 50 Ω is the standard in RF.→ LNALow Noise Amplifier. Placed at the front end of a receiver to minimize system noise figure.→ WaveguideA hollow metallic tube used to guide electromagnetic waves at microwave and millimeter wave frequencies.→
About This Resource

Why We Built This Glossary

RF engineering spans dozens of specialized disciplines, from antenna design and waveguide manufacturing to satellite link budgets and radar signal processing. Engineers working across these domains encounter unfamiliar terminology constantly, whether reading datasheets, reviewing specifications, or collaborating with teams in adjacent fields.

This glossary was built to be the single, authoritative reference for every term in RF, microwave, and millimeter wave engineering. Each definition is written by practicing RF engineers, reviewed for technical accuracy, and structured for quick comprehension. Where applicable, definitions include formulas, typical values, and links to related terms and our interactive calculators.

We are continuously expanding this glossary. If you encounter a term that is not listed, let us know and we will add it.

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