Soldering
Soldering is a process of joining two or more metal items by melting and flowing a filler metal (solder) into the joint, which then solidifies to create a strong electrical and mechanical bond. It is commonly used in electronics assembly, circuit board repair, and hardware prototyping to connect components like resistors, capacitors, and wires. The technique involves using a soldering iron to heat the metals and apply solder, often with flux to prevent oxidation and ensure a clean connection.
Developers should learn soldering when working with hardware projects, such as building custom electronics, repairing circuit boards, or prototyping embedded systems, as it enables direct manipulation and assembly of physical components. It is essential for tasks like creating custom PCBs, fixing broken connections in devices, or integrating sensors and microcontrollers in IoT applications, providing hands-on control over hardware that software alone cannot achieve.