.KICAD_MOD File Extension
KiCad Module
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What is a KICAD_MOD file?
A KICAD_MOD file is a module used by KiCad, an open-source program for electronic design automation (EDA). It contains printed circuit board (PCB) footprints, which are the physical layouts of electronic components as they appear on a printed circuit board, and include details such as pad positions, pad sizes, and courtyard or silkscreen outlines. KICAD_MOD files are written in a plain text format and usually belong to a larger footprint library.
More Information
A footprint of a PCB defines the component's pads, outlines, and placement information, enabling engineers, hobbyists, and educators to ensure that electronic components fit correctly on the board and can be soldered or mounted as intended. KiCad uses the information in KICAD_MOD files to link schematic symbols (stored in .KICAD_SYM files) with their physical representations on the PCB. The separation of schematic symbols and footprints helps maintain flexibility in the design process, since the same symbol can be associated with different footprints.
How to open a KICAD_MOD file
You can open KICAD_MOD files with KiCad. Since KICAD_MOD files contain plain text, you can also open the files with text editors, such as Microsoft Notepad, Apple TextEdit, and Microsoft Visual Studio Code. However, opening KICAD_MOD files with a text editor will not appear the same as opening them with KiCad.