STM32 is a family of 32-bit ARM Cortex-M microcontroller (MCU) chips developed by STMicroelectronics. These MCUs are widely used in embedded systems for their high performance, low power consumption, and rich peripheral set.
Key Features of STM32
✅ ARM Cortex-M Cores (M0, M0+, M3, M4, M7, M33)
✅ Wide Performance Range (From 16 MHz to 550+ MHz)
✅ Low Power Modes (Critical for battery-powered devices)
✅ Rich Peripherals (ADC, DAC, Timers, PWM, UART, SPI, I2C, USB, CAN, Ethernet)
✅ Extensive Ecosystem (STM32CubeIDE, HAL/LL libraries, FreeRTOS support)
STM32 Series Comparison
Series Core Max Freq Key Features Best For
STM32F1 Cortex-M3 72 MHz Basic, cost-effective Legacy projects
STM32F4 Cortex-M4 180 MHz DSP, FPU Motor control, audio
STM32H7 Cortex-M7/M4 550 MHz Dual-core, high-speed AI, GUI, advanced control
STM32L4 Cortex-M4 80 MHz Ultra-low power IoT, wearables
STM32G0 Cortex-M0+ 64 MHz Budget-friendly Simple embedded apps
STM32WB Cortex-M4 + M0+ 64 MHz Bluetooth/Wi-Fi Wireless IoT
Why Use STM32?
✔ High Performance (Faster than 8-bit MCUs like AVR)
✔ Scalability (Choose from 1000+ variants)
✔ Low Power (STM32L4 consumes < 10 µA in standby)
✔ Rich Development Tools (STM32CubeMX, PlatformIO, Keil, IAR)
How to Get Started with STM32
1. Hardware Needed
2. Software Setup
3. Write & Upload Code
Example (Blink LED using HAL):
Flash via ST-Link or USB DFU
STM32 vs. Alternatives
Common Applications
Did You Know?