Skip to main content
symbols.buildwithtrace.com is a free, open catalog of 30,000+ schematic symbols for KiCad and Trace. You can browse, search, generate custom symbols with AI, and contribute back to the community. The catalog includes:
  • 22,650 symbols from the official Trace/KiCad library (all standard components)
  • 8,293 symbols from the CERN Open Hardware Repository
  • Community contributions from users worldwide

​
Searching

Use the search bar on any page. Search matches against symbol names, descriptions, keywords, and pin names. Filter by category (MCU, Power, Analog, Connectors, etc.) using the sidebar.

​
Browsing by library

Click Browse to see all 251 libraries organized by category. Each library page shows all symbols with pin counts, descriptions, and preview thumbnails.

​
Copy to Clipboard

Every symbol has a Copy button with two formats:
FormatUse case
Canvas (default)Paste directly into a Trace or KiCad schematic editor canvas
LibraryPaste into a .kicad_sym file or the symbol library editor
The canvas format includes positioning and instance data so the symbol appears ready to wire immediately after pasting.

​
Download Libraries

Click the download icon on any library page to get the original .kicad_sym file. Downloads preserve full fidelity — all graphics, multi-unit symbols, and metadata exactly as authored.
Copy-to-clipboard reconstructs the symbol from pin data (functional but simplified geometry). Downloads serve the original file with full graphical detail. For production use, prefer downloading.

​
AI Symbol Generation

Click Generate (requires a Trace account) to create custom symbols:
  1. Describe the component (e.g., “STM32F401CCU6 in UFQFPN48 package”)
  2. The AI generates a complete symbol with correct pins, power pins, and properties
  3. Preview the result, then copy to clipboard or save to your library
Generated symbols include:
  • Correct pin names, numbers, and electrical types
  • Proper power pins (VDD, VSS) with correct types
  • Datasheet URL and footprint filter references
  • Standard reference prefix (U, R, C, etc.)

​
Limitations

  • Generated symbols use functional but simplified graphics (rectangular body)
  • Pin positions follow a standard layout algorithm, not the datasheet’s exact pin diagram
  • For production ICs, verify pin assignments against the datasheet

​
Contributing

Upload your own .kicad_sym files to share with the community:
  1. Go to Contribute
  2. Upload your .kicad_sym file — it’s validated automatically
  3. Fill in metadata (library name, category, description)
  4. Submit — creates a pull request on the official library repository
Contributions are reviewed for correctness and KiCad Library Convention (KLC) compliance before merging.

​
Authentication

The symbols platform shares authentication with your Trace account. Click Sign In and you’ll be redirected to the Trace login page. No separate account needed. Browsing, searching, and downloading are available without signing in. Generating and saving symbols requires authentication.