Potentiometer Symbol Guide: Complete Chart, IEC/IEEE Standards, Compare Types and More

Published Oct 19, 2026, updated Oct 19, 2026

13 min

Potentiometer Symbol Chart
What Does a Potentiometer Symbol Mean?
Potentiometer Symbol Pinout: End Terminals and Wiper
IEC vs. ANSI Potentiometer Symbols: What's the Difference?
Potentiometer vs. Rheostat vs. Variable Resistor Symbols
Potentiometer Types and Their Symbols
What Do Potentiometer Labels Such as B10K and 103 Mean?
How to Read a Potentiometer Symbol in a Schematic Step by Step
Conclusion
FAQs About the Potentiometer Symbol

Key Takeaways

Find the wiper first: The arrow or bar that touches the resistor body is the wiper, the movable contact, while the two plain leads at the ends of the body are the fixed end terminals.
Expect two drawing styles: IEC schematics draw the body as a rectangle, and ANSI-style schematics draw a zigzag, but both represent the same component and mark the wiper in the same way.
Read the arrow's position: An arrow touching the body marks a three-terminal potentiometer. In contrast, an arrow drawn diagonally across the body usually marks a two-terminal variable resistor or rheostat.
Know which types share one symbol: Rotary, slide, and multi-turn potentiometers usually use the standard symbol, while trimmer, dual-gang, switched, and digital potentiometers have their own recognizable forms.
Check the datasheet: The symbol does not indicate which terminal is clockwise, and taper markings can vary by manufacturer. Always confirm both in the datasheet before designing the PCB layout.

A potentiometer symbol can appear in several forms in the same project: a rectangle with an arrow in one schematic, a zigzag with an arrow in another, and a short T-shaped bar for a board-mounted trimmer. If you connect the end terminal to the wiper, the output can remain fixed rather than adjustable.

In this guide, you will learn:

The common potentiometer symbol variants are shown in one chart
How to identify the two end terminals and the wiper
How IEC and ANSI potentiometer symbols differ
How to tell a potentiometer from a rheostat or variable resistor
Which potentiometer types have their own symbol

Potentiometer Symbol Chart

Most potentiometer symbols show a resistor with an arrow representing the wiper. Each variant changes one detail: the body style, the wiper tip shape, an added mechanical link, or the IC outline.

Figure: Potentiometer symbol chart

Symbol Variant	How It Is Drawn	Terminals	What It Tells You
Standard potentiometer, IEC style	Rectangle with an arrow touching the middle of one long side	3: two ends and a wiper	An adjustable voltage divider
Standard potentiometer, ANSI style	Zigzag with an arrow pointing at it	3: two ends and a wiper	The same component in US-style schematics
Trimmer (preset) potentiometer	The wiper ends in a short bar instead of an arrowhead	3	Set once during assembly or calibration
Dual-gang potentiometer	Two potentiometer symbols with their wipers joined by a dashed line	6	Two tracks turned by one shaft
Potentiometer with switch	A potentiometer and a switch joined by a dashed line	3, plus the switch contacts	The shaft also operates a switch
Digital potentiometer	An IC outline with terminal A, wiper W, and terminal B	3 analog, plus supply and control pins	A resistor network set by a digital interface
Variable resistor, for contrast	An arrow drawn diagonally across the body	2	An adjustable resistance, not a divider

What Does a Potentiometer Symbol Mean?

A potentiometer symbol represents a three-terminal resistor with a movable contact. The body is the resistive track, the leads at its two ends are the fixed terminals, and the arrow touching the body is the wiper.

Figure: Potentiometer symbol with end terminals 1 and 3 and the wiper at pin 2

The potentiometer symbol starts from the resistor symbol and adds a third terminal. Each element represents one part of the component:

Resistor body: The resistive track. The value printed beside it, such as 10k, is the resistance between the two end terminals.
End terminals: The fixed ends of the track. The resistance between them remains at the rated value within tolerance as the wiper moves.
Wiper arrow: The movable contact. Its position sets how the track resistance is divided between the wiper and each end terminal.

With a voltage across the end terminals, the wiper delivers an adjustable fraction of that voltage. In an unloaded divider, the fraction equals the share of track resistance between the wiper and the grounded end.

Potentiometer Symbol Pinout: End Terminals and Wiper

On most three-pin potentiometers, the end terminals are numbered 1 and 3, and the wiper is pin 2. On panel potentiometers, the wiper is usually the middle pin, and the datasheet defines which end is clockwise (CW).

Pin	Symbol Element	Function	Check the Datasheet
1	One end of the body	Fixed the end of the track	Whether it is the CW or counterclockwise (CCW) end
2	Wiper arrow	Movable contact	Its physical position is usually the middle pin on the panel parts
3	Other end of the body	Fixed the end of the track	Whether it is the CW or CCW end

Many datasheets show the CW end in a terminal diagram. For example, the Bourns 3296 trimmer datasheet labels terminal 2 as the wiper, terminal 1 as the CCW end, and terminal 3 as the CW end.

Note

Swapping the two end terminals reverses the control direction, so the output rises as the shaft turns counterclockwise. For a volume or level control that should increase clockwise, connect the signal input to the end of the datasheet marked CW and ground to the end marked CCW.

rotary potentiometer pins 1, 2, and 3

Figure: Rotary potentiometer pins 1, 2, and 3 matched to the potentiometer symbol

Potentiometers usually carry one of these reference designators, followed by a number such as RV1:

R: The general resistor prefix, used on many schematics for potentiometers and trimmers.
RV: A common potentiometer prefix, although some schematics also use it for a varistor.
VR: Short for variable resistor, although some schematics also use it for a voltage regulator.

Identify the part from the symbol and its value, not from the prefix alone. Before finalizing the footprint, you can use the JLCPCB Parts Library to check which potentiometers and trimmers are available and to review their package information.

IEC vs. ANSI Potentiometer Symbols: What's the Difference?

IEC 60617 depicts the potentiometer body as rectangular, whereas ANSI-style schematics per IEEE 315 depict it as zigzag. Both mark the wiper with an arrow touching the body, so the two symbols represent the same component.

iec rectangle and ansi zigzag potentiometer symbols

Figure: IEC rectangle and ANSI zigzag potentiometer symbols side by side

Detail	IEC 60617 Style	ANSI/IEEE 315 Style	What It Means When Reading
Resistor body	Rectangle	Zigzag line	The same resistive track
Wiper	Arrow touching the long side of the rectangle	Arrow pointing at the zigzag	The same movable contact
Preset (trimmer) form	A separate preset potentiometer symbol is defined	Often drawn with the same T-shaped bar, or with the standard symbol	A bar instead of an arrowhead means a preset part
Common in	Europe and most international schematics	North American and older schematics	Neither style is more correct

Potentiometer vs. Rheostat vs. Variable Resistor Symbols

An arrow that touches the body marks a three-terminal potentiometer. An arrow drawn diagonally across the body marks a two-terminal variable resistor. A rheostat is usually drawn that way, or as a potentiometer with its wiper tied to one end.

Figure: Potentiometer, variable resistor, and rheostat symbols compared

Symbol	How It Is Drawn	Terminals	Function in the Circuit
Potentiometer	Arrow touching the body	3	Adjustable voltage divider
Variable resistor	Diagonal arrow through the body	2	Adjustable two-terminal resistance
Rheostat	Diagonal arrow, or a potentiometer with the wiper joined to one end	2	Adjustable series resistance, often used to set the current
Preset resistor	Diagonal line ending in a short bar	2	Resistance is set once during calibration
Thermistor, for contrast	Diagonal line with a short horizontal foot, labeled t°	2	Resistance changes with temperature, not by adjustment

Potentiometer Types and Their Symbols

Rotary, slide, and multi-turn potentiometers usually share the standard symbol. Trimmer, dual-gang, switched, and digital potentiometers have their own forms because each adds a preset mark, a mechanical link, a switch, or a digital interface.

Standard symbol: rotary, slide, and multi-turn potentiometers
Own symbol form: trimmer, dual-gang, switched, and digital potentiometers

Figure: Potentiometer types and their schematic symbols

1. Rotary and Slide Potentiometer Symbol

A rotary potentiometer moves its wiper with a shaft, and a slide potentiometer moves it along a straight track. The electrical function is the same, so schematics use the standard symbol for both, and the part number identifies the mechanical form. Track material does not change the symbol either. Carbon, cermet (a ceramic-metal composite), conductive plastic, and wirewound parts are all drawn the same way.

2. Multi-Turn Potentiometer Symbol

A multi-turn potentiometer needs several turns of its shaft or screw to move the wiper from one end to the other. The Bourns 3296 trimmer, for example, has about 25 turns of effective travel. Schematics draw it with the standard symbol, or with the trimmer form when the part is a board-mounted trimmer. The number of turns appears in the datasheet, not in the symbol.

3. Trimmer Potentiometer Symbol

A trimmer, or preset, potentiometer is set during assembly or calibration and is not intended for adjustment in normal use. Its symbol usually replaces the wiper arrowhead with a short bar, forming the T-shaped tip that marks preset adjustment. IEC 60617 lists a separate preset potentiometer symbol. Zigzag-style schematics often use the same bar, while some simply use the standard symbol with a trimmer part number such as 3296W-1-103LF.

4. Dual-Gang Potentiometer Symbol

A dual-gang potentiometer has two tracks turned by one shaft, as in a stereo volume control. It is drawn as two potentiometer symbols with their wipers joined by a dashed line, the usual notation for a mechanical link. Some schematics draw the two sections apart, with one shared designator and a unit suffix, such as RV1A and RV1B.

5. Potentiometer With Switch Symbol

A switched potentiometer adds a switch operated by the same shaft, often at the counterclockwise end of rotation, as in a combined power-and-volume knob. The schematic shows a potentiometer and a switch symbol joined by a dashed line, with the switch contacts as separate pins.

6. Digital Potentiometer Symbol

A digital potentiometer, or digipot, replaces the mechanical wiper with a chain of resistors and electronic switches. A digital interface sets the wiper position in steps, for example, 129 steps on the 7-bit Microchip MCP4131.

It is drawn as an integrated circuit symbol whose analog pins mirror a potentiometer: terminal A, wiper W, and terminal B. On the MCP4131, these are P0A (pin 5), P0W (pin 6), and P0B (pin 7), alongside the SPI and supply pins.

What Do Potentiometer Labels Such as B10K and 103 Mean?

The label beside a potentiometer symbol, or printed on the part, gives the resistance between the end terminals and, on many parts, a taper letter. B10K usually means a 10 kΩ linear-taper part, and 103 is a three-digit code for 10 kΩ.

Label	Meaning	Where You See It
10k, 10K, or 10 kΩ	10 kΩ between the end terminals	Schematic value field
B10K	B taper, usually linear, and 10 kΩ	Panel potentiometer body
A10K	A taper, usually logarithmic (audio), and 10 kΩ	Volume controls
C10K	C taper, usually reverse logarithmic, and 10 kΩ	Less common parts, such as audio controls that turn counterclockwise
103	10 × 10³ Ω, which is 10 kΩ	Trimmer body and part numbers
504	50 × 10⁴ Ω, which is 500 kΩ	Trimmer body and part numbers

A linear taper changes resistance in proportion to rotation. A logarithmic taper changes slowly near one end and faster near the other, which suits volume controls.

Figure: Potentiometer label decoding for B10K and 103, with linear, logarithmic, and reverse logarithmic taper curves

The three-digit code follows the same rule as fixed resistors: two significant digits, then a multiplier. Our SMD resistor code guide covers the format in detail.

How to Read a Potentiometer Symbol in a Schematic Step by Step

Read a potentiometer symbol in the same order every time: the body, the wiper, the connections, and then the label. The worked schematic contains a panel volume control, a bias trimmer, and a potentiometer wired as a rheostat.

Figure: Worked potentiometer symbol schematic with a volume control, a bias trimmer, and a rheostat-wired potentiometer

Identify the body: A rectangle or zigzag with three connections is a potentiometer. With two connections, it is a variable resistor or a potentiometer wired as a single unit.
Find the wiper: The arrow or bar touching the body is the wiper. A short bar instead of an arrowhead marks a trimmer that is set during calibration.
Trace the end terminals: In a voltage divider, one end connects to the input or supply, the other to ground, and the wiper carries the adjustable output.
Check for a wiper-to-end link: A wire from the wiper to one end terminal means the part works as a two-terminal rheostat.
Look for dashed lines: A dashed line to a second track or to a switch means those sections share one shaft.
Read the label and confirm the pins: Decode the value and taper letter, then match pins 1, 2, and 3, and the CW end, to the datasheet before layout.

In the example, the volume control and the bias trimmer are both potentiometers; the volume control's wiper ends in an arrowhead, and the trimmer's wiper ends in a short bar. The third part shows only two active terminals, so it works as a rheostat. For general conventions such as wires, junctions, and net labels, see our guide to reading circuit diagrams.

Conclusion

A potentiometer symbol is a resistor body with a wiper that touches it: the two ends are the fixed terminals, and the arrow or T-shaped bar is the movable contact.

A potentiometer symbol shows how the component connects in a circuit, but it doesn't tell you everything about the physical part. Identifying the wiper is the first step. Checking the datasheet for the actual pinout, rotation direction, and footprint is just as important, especially when designing a PCB.

FAQs About the Potentiometer Symbol

What Does the Arrow on a Potentiometer Symbol Mean?

It marks the wiper, the movable contact that slides along the resistive track. Its position sets how the track resistance is divided between the wiper and each end terminal.

What Is the Difference Between a Potentiometer and a Rheostat Symbol?

A potentiometer has three terminals, with the arrow touching the body. A rheostat has two terminals and is drawn with a diagonal arrow or as a potentiometer with its wiper tied to one end.

How Is a Trimmer Potentiometer Drawn in a Schematic?

Usually, with a short bar in place of the wiper arrowhead, forming a T-shaped tip. Some schematics simply use the standard symbol together with the trimmer's part number.

Which Pin Is the Wiper on a Potentiometer?

Usually, pin 2 is the middle pin on most panel potentiometers. Confirm it in the datasheet, which also shows which end terminal is clockwise.

What Are the Main Types of Potentiometers?

The main types are rotary, slide, multi-turn, trimmer, dual-gang, switched, and digital potentiometers. Most rotary, slide, and multi-turn parts share the standard symbol, while the others have their own forms.