Documentation
Everything you need to know about creating, editing, and exporting professional circuit diagrams. From your first schematic to advanced layout techniques, this guide covers the complete Circuit Diagram Maker workflow.
Open the editor in your browser — no download or account needed. You'll see a toolbar at the top, a component library on the left, a drawing canvas in the center, and a properties panel on the right. Start by dragging components from the library onto the canvas.
Browse or search the sidebar for components like resistors, capacitors, ICs, and connectors. Drag any symbol onto the canvas — it snaps to the 20px grid automatically. Press R to rotate, H to flip horizontally, or double-click to edit labels.
Switch to the Wire tool by pressing W or clicking the wire button. Click on a component pin, then click on the destination pin. The Manhattan routing engine calculates the cleanest orthogonal path automatically. All wires stay perfectly horizontal or vertical.
Press L to add text labels to your circuit diagram. Double-click any component to edit its reference designator (R1, C1, U1). Use meaningful net names on critical signals (VCC, GND, CLK) to improve schematic readability.
Click the Export button in the toolbar to download your diagram. Choose SVG for infinitely scalable vector output (ideal for publications and LaTeX), PNG for raster images (ideal for presentations and web), or JSON to save the project for later editing.
Use Ctrl+D to duplicate common blocks. Organize complex diagrams by placing power supply sections on the left, control logic in the center, and outputs on the right. Keep signal flow left-to-right and top-to-bottom for maximum readability.
For the highest quality in academic papers, export your circuit diagram as an SVG. Our SVG output uses standard XML paths that integrate perfectly with the LaTeX svg package or can be converted to PDF for use with graphicx. This ensures your schematics stay crisp at any zoom level.
Use the JSON export to share "live" circuit diagrams with teammates. Unlike a static image, a JSON file allows others to load your schematic into their own browser, edit connections, and export their own versions. Perfect for team design reviews and collaborative lab work.
Master these shortcuts to create circuit diagrams 3x faster. Every action in Circuit Diagram Maker has a keyboard equivalent.
| Shortcut | Action | Description |
|---|---|---|
| V | Select Tool | Click and drag to select, move, and group components on the canvas |
| W | Wire Tool | Draw orthogonal wire connections between component pins |
| L | Label Tool | Add text labels and net names to your circuit diagram |
| R | Rotate | Rotate the selected component 90° clockwise |
| H | Flip Horizontal | Mirror the selected component horizontally |
| F | Flip Vertical | Mirror the selected component vertically |
| Del / Backspace | Delete | Remove selected components or wires from the diagram |
| Ctrl+Z | Undo | Undo the last action in the circuit diagram editor |
| Ctrl+Y | Redo | Redo the previously undone action |
| Ctrl+D | Duplicate | Create a copy of the selected component or group |
| Ctrl+S | Save | Save the circuit diagram to browser local storage |
| Ctrl+N | New | Create a new blank circuit diagram |
| Scroll Wheel | Zoom In/Out | Zoom the canvas in and out for detail work |
| Space + Drag | Pan Canvas | Hold spacebar and drag to pan around the canvas |
Before you export or share your circuit diagram, run through this technical checklist to ensure professional results.
To create clear, professional circuit diagrams with Circuit Diagram Maker, follow these industry-standard conventions:
Place inputs on the left, processing in the center, and outputs on the right. Standard circuit diagrams flow from left-to-right.
Place VCC/VDD at the top of the schematic and GND at the bottom. This follows the conventional high-to-low voltage orientation.
Use standard prefixes: R (resistor), C (capacitor), U (IC), Q (transistor), D (diode), J (connector), L (inductor).