Defining Pin Levels: High and Low: High Input Output Input Pinmode Digitalread High

Defining Pin Levels: HIGH and LOW
When reading or writing to a digital pin there are only two possible values a pin can
take/be-set-to: HIGH and LOW.
HIGH
The meaning of HIGH (in reference to a pin) is somewhat different depending on

whether a pin is set to an INPUT or OUTPUT. When a pin is configured as
an INPUT with pinMode(), and read with digitalRead(), the Arduino (Atmega) will
report HIGH if:
 a voltage greater than 3 volts is present at the pin (5V boards);

 a voltage greater than 2 volts is present at the pin (3.3V boards);
A pin may also be configured as an INPUT with pinMode(), and subsequently

made HIGH with digitalWrite(). This will enable the internal 20K pullup resistors,
which will pull up the input pin to a HIGH reading unless it is pulled LOW by external
circuitry. This is how INPUT_PULLUP works and is described below in more detail.
When a pin is configured to OUTPUT with pinMode(), and set

to HIGH with digitalWrite(), the pin is at:
 5 volts (5V boards);

 3.3 volts (3.3V boards);
In this state it can source current, e.g. light an LED that is connected through a series
resistor to ground.
LOW
The meaning of LOW also has a different meaning depending on whether a pin is set
to INPUT or OUTPUT. When a pin is configured as an INPUT with pinMode(), and
read with digitalRead(), the Arduino (Atmega) will report LOW if:
 a voltage less than 3 volts is present at the pin (5V boards);

 a voltage less than 2 volts is present at the pin (3.3V boards);
When a pin is configured to OUTPUT with pinMode(), and set

to LOW with digitalWrite(), the pin is at 0 volts (both 5V and 3.3V boards). In this
state it can sink current, e.g. light an LED that is connected through a series resistor to
+5 volts (or +3.3 volts).
Defining Digital Pins modes: INPUT,

INPUT_PULLUP, and OUTPUT
Digital pins can be used as INPUT, INPUT_PULLUP, or OUTPUT. Changing a pin
with pinMode()changes the electrical behavior of the pin.
Pins Configured as INPUT
Arduino (Atmega) pins configured as INPUT with pinMode() are said to be in a

high-impedance state. Pins configured as INPUT make extremely small demands on
the circuit that they are sampling, equivalent to a series resistor of 100 Megohms in
front of the pin. This makes them useful for reading a sensor.
If you have your pin configured as an INPUT, and are reading a switch, when the
switch is in the open state the input pin will be "floating", resulting in unpredictable
results. In order to assure a proper reading when the switch is open, a pull-up or pull-
down resistor must be used. The purpose of this resistor is to pull the pin to a known
state when the switch is open. A 10 K ohm resistor is usually chosen, as it is a low
enough value to reliably prevent a floating input, and at the same time a high enough
value to not draw too much current when the switch is closed. If a pull-down
resistor is used, the input pin will be LOW when the switch is open and HIGH when the
switch is closed.
If a pull-up resistor is used, the input pin will be HIGH when the switch is open
and LOW when the switch is closed.
Pins Configured as INPUT_PULLUP
The Atmega microcontroller on the Arduino has internal pull-up resistors (resistors
that connect to power internally) that you can access. If you prefer to use these instead
of external pull-up resistors, you can use the INPUT_PULLUP argument
in pinMode().
Pins configured as inputs with either INPUT or INPUT_PULLUP can be damaged or

destroyed if they are connected to voltages below ground (negative voltages) or above
the positive power rail (5V or 3V).
Pins Configured as Outputs
Pins configured as OUTPUT with pinMode() are said to be in a low-impedance state.

This means that they can provide a substantial amount of current to other circuits.
Atmega pins can source (provide current) or sink (absorb current) up to 40 mA
(milliamps) of current to other devices/circuits. This makes them useful for
powering LEDs because LEDs typically use less than 40 mA. Loads greater than 40
mA (e.g. motors) will require a transistor or other interface circuitry.
Pins configured as outputs can be damaged or destroyed if they are connected to either
the ground or positive power rails.

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Defining Pin Levels: HIGH and LOW

The meaning of HIGH (in reference to a pin) is somewhat different depending on

 a voltage greater than 3 volts is present at the pin (5V boards);

A pin may also be configured as an INPUT with pinMode(), and subsequently

When a pin is configured to OUTPUT with pinMode(), and set

 5 volts (5V boards);

 a voltage less than 3 volts is present at the pin (5V boards);

When a pin is configured to OUTPUT with pinMode(), and set

Defining Digital Pins modes: INPUT,

Pins Configured as INPUT

Arduino (Atmega) pins configured as INPUT with pinMode() are said to be in a

Pins Configured as INPUT_PULLUP

Pins configured as inputs with either INPUT or INPUT_PULLUP can be damaged or

Pins Configured as Outputs

Pins configured as OUTPUT with pinMode() are said to be in a low-impedance state.

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