ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Plastic leaded chip carrier

A plastic leaded chip carrier, or PLCC for short, is a type of package that is used to protect tiny electronic components, like microchips, from damage. The PLCC is made of plastic and it has tiny metal legs that stick out from the sides. These legs, also known as leads, have a special metal coating on them that helps electricity flow through the PLCC and its components.

Think of the PLCC like a tiny house for your toys. The toy would be like the microchip, and the PLCC would be like a box that the toy fits inside. But instead of a cardboard box, the PLCC is made of plastic. And instead of a lid that comes off, the PLCC has those metal legs that stick out from the sides.

When an engineer designs a circuit, they use tiny electronic components to make it work. These tiny components, like microchips, have to be protected from things like static electricity or heat that could damage them. The PLCC helps protect these components by keeping them inside the plastic box and providing a way for electricity to flow through them.

When assembling a circuit, engineers place the PLCC on a circuit board and then solder the metal legs onto the board. This makes sure that the PLCC is securely attached to the circuit and that electricity can flow between the PLCC and the other components.

So, in summary, a PLCC is like a tiny plastic house for electronic components that helps protect them and allows electricity to flow between them and other parts of the circuit.