The most advanced integrated circuits are the "cores" of microprocessors or multi-core processors, which can control everything from computers to mobile phones to digital microwave ovens. Memory and ASIC are examples of other integrated circuit families, which are very important to the modern information society. Although the cost of designing and developing a complex integrated circuit is very high, the cost of each IC is minimized when it is spread over millions of products. The performance of the IC is very high, because the small size brings a short path, so that low-power logic circuits can be applied at fast switching speeds.

Over the years, ICs have continued to develop toward smaller dimensions, allowing each chip to package more circuits. This increases the capacity per unit area, which can reduce costs and increase functionality-see Moore's Law, the number of transistors in an integrated circuit doubles every two years. In short, as the external dimensions shrink, almost all indicators have improved-unit cost and switching power consumption have decreased, and speed has increased. However, ICs that integrate nano-level devices are not without problems, mainly leakage current. Therefore, the speed and power consumption increase for the end user is very obvious, and manufacturers face the acute challenge of using better geometries. This process and the expected progress in the coming years are well described in the Semiconductor International Technology Roadmap (ITRS).

More and more circuits appear in the hands of designers in the form of integrated chips, making the development of electronic circuits tend to be miniaturized and high-speed. More and more applications have been transformed from complex analog circuits to simple digital logic integrated