How To Use Seven Segment Display With Arduino

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Would you like to learn how to interface a seven-segment display with an Arduino?. In this tutorial, we are going to interface a 7 segment display to Arduino UNO. The display counts from 0-9 and resets itself to zero. A seven-segment display got its name from the very fact that it got seven illuminating segments. Each of these segments has a LED (Light Emitting Diode), hence the lighting. Watch this video for step by step instructions

Hardware Components

S.NO	Components	Value	Qty
1.	Arduino	Uno R3	1
2.	USB Cable A/B		1
3.	7-Segment Display	Cathode	1
4.	Breadboard		1
5.	Connecting Wires		1

Common Cathode Pinout

Useful Steps

Follow all steps carefully from the video tutorial above this post (Highly Recommended).

STEP # 1 ( Connect Common Pin of 7 Segment )
Connect CC Pin of 7 Segment to GND of Arduino
STEP # 2 ( Connect a,b,c pin of 7 Segment )
Connect a Pin of 7 Segment to D7 of Arduino
Now, Connect b Pin of 7 Segment to D8 of Arduino
Connect c Pin of 7 Segment to D9 of Arduino
STEP # 3 ( Connect d,e,f,g pin of 7 Segment )
Connect d Pin of 7 Segment to D10 of Arduino
Now, Connect e Pin of 7 Segment to D11 of Arduino
Connect f Pin of 7 Segment to D12 of Arduino
Connect g Pin of 7 Segment to D13 of Arduino
STEP # 4 ( Upload Code )
Download code and upload it to Arduino Board using Arduino IDE Software
https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software
STEP # 5 ( Let’s Test )

Circuit Diagram

Working Explanation

Seven segment displays consist of 7 LEDs, called segments, arranged in the shape of an “8”. Most 7-segment displays actually have 8 segments, with a dot on the right side of the digit that serves as a decimal point. Each segment is named with a letter A to G, and DP for the decimal point.

Each segment of the 7 segment display can be controlled individually. There are two common types of 7 segment displays that can work with an arduino controller, namely common cathode and common anode. In common cathode, all of the cathodes are connected to ground and individual segments are turned on and off by switching power to the anodes. While in a common anode 7 segment display, all of the anodes are connected to Vcc, and individual segments are turned on and off by switching power to the cathodes.