CMOS vs. Bipolar Semiconductor Technology: Key Differences

Comparison

Feature	CMOS	Bipolar
Transistor Structure	MOSFET (source, drain, gate)	BJT (emitter, base, collector)
Power Consumption	Very low static power	Higher (continuous current)
Speed/Frequency	Higher circuit speeds	Faster individual switching but slower overall
Noise Immunity	Better (high input impedance)	More sensitive
Integration Density	Higher (more transistors/mm²)	Lower
Fabrication Complexity	More complex, mature processes	Simpler, fewer steps
Cost/Yield	Cost-effective, high yield	More expensive, lower yield

CMOS dominates modern ICs due to power, density, and cost advantages. Bipolar remains in niche RF/analog applications needing high switching speed.