If you want to obtain a bit extra details as well as technological, you can take a look at the complying with detailed requirements of the ESP32 (resource: http://esp32.net/)– for more information,:
Previously, we pointed out that the ESP32 is the ESP8266 successor.
You can inspect the following web link to locate the ESP32 DEVKIT DOIT board in various shops:
Introducing the ESP32
Other comparable boards with the attributes discussed formerly may additionally be an excellent option like the Adafruit ESP32 Feather, Sparkfun ESP32 Thing, NodeMCU-32S, Wemos LoLin32, etc. We suggest the complying with tutorials to get begun:
Also, do not forget to take an appearance at the ESP32 pinout to discover just how to utilize its GPIOs:
- Low-cost: you can get an ESP32 starting at $6, which makes it easily accessible to the general public;
- Low-power: the ESP32 consumes very little power compared with other microcontrollers, and it supports low-power mode states like to save power;
- : the ESP32 can easily connect to a Wi-Fi network to connect to the internet (station mode), or create its own Wi-Fi wireless network () so other devices can connect to it—this is essential for IoT and Home Automation projects—you can have multiple devices communicating with each other using their Wi-Fi capabilities;
- Bluetooth: the ESP32 supports and —which is useful for a wide variety of IoT applications;
- : most ESP32 are dual-core— they come with 2 Xtensa 32-bit LX6 microprocessors: core 0 and core 1.
- —the ESP32 supports a wide variety of input (read data from the outside world) and output (to send commands/signals to the outside world) peripherals like , , DACs, UART, , , , and much more.
- : those that are already familiar with programming the Arduino board, you’ll be happy to know that they can program the ESP32 in the Arduino style.
- : you can program the ESP32 with MicroPython firmware, which is a re-implementation of Python 3 targeted for microcontrollers and embedded systems.
ESP32 Specifications
If you’re major regarding finding out regarding the ESP32, we suggest taking an appearance at our very popular digital book:
- Wireless connectivity: 150.0 Mbps data rate with HT40
- Bluetooth: and
- Processor: Tensilica Xtensa Dual-Core 32-bit LX6 microprocessor, running at 160 or 240 MHz
- Memory:
- ROM: 448 KB (for booting and core functions)
- SRAM: 520 KB (for data and instructions)
- RTC fast SRAM: 8 KB (for data storage and main CPU during RTC Boot from the deep-sleep mode)
- RTC slow SRAM: 8KB (for co-processor accessing during deep-sleep mode)
- eFuse: 1 Kbit (of which 256 bits are used for the system (MAC address and chip configuration) and the remaining 768 bits are reserved for customer applications, including Flash-Encryption and Chip-ID)
- Embedded flash: flash connected internally via IO16, IO17, SD_CMD, SD_CLK, SD_DATA_0 and SD_DATA_1 on ESP32-D2WD and ESP32-PICO-D4.
- 0 MiB (ESP32-D0WDQ6, ESP32-D0WD, and ESP32-S0WD chips)
- 2 MiB (ESP32-D2WD chip)
- 4 MiB (ESP32-PICO-D4 SiP module)
- Low Power: ensures that you can still use ADC conversions, for example, during .
-
- peripheral interface with DMA that includes
- DACs (Digital-to-Analog Converter)
- UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter)
- I²S (Integrated Interchip Sound)
- RMII (Reduced Media-Independent Interface)
- Security: hardware accelerators for AES and SSL/TLS
Main Differences Between ESP32 and ESP8266
You can also examine all our cost-free ESP32 tutorials and guides on the adhering to web link:
If you like ESP32 make certain you, so you do not miss approaching projects.
Below’s what we’ll cover in this overview:
Table of Contents
First, to obtain begun, what is an ESP32? Mostly due to the fact that of the adhering to attributes:
- The ESP32 is faster than the ESP8266;
- The ESP32 comes with more GPIOs with multiple functions;
- The ESP32 supports analog measurements on 18 channels (analog-enabled pins) versus just one 10-bit ADC pin on the ESP8266;
- The ESP32 supports Bluetooth while the ESP8266 doesn’t;
- The ESP32 is dual-core (most models), and the ESP8266 is single core;
- The ESP32 is a bit more expensive than the ESP8266.
If you want to obtain a bit extra technical as well as details, you can take a look at the complying with thorough specs of the ESP32 (resource: http://esp32.net/)– for more details,:
ESP32 Development Boards
Previously, we mentioned that the ESP32 is the ESP8266 successor.
You can examine the adhering to link to locate the ESP32 DEVKIT DOIT board in various stores:
How to Choose an ESP32 Development Board?
Other similar boards with the functions stated formerly might likewise be an excellent option like the Adafruit ESP32 Feather, Sparkfun ESP32 Thing, NodeMCU-32S, Wemos LoLin32, etc.
- USB-to-UART interface and voltage regulator circuit. Most full-featured development boards have these two features. This is important to easily connect the ESP32 to your computer to upload code and apply power.
- BOOT and RESET/EN buttons to put the board in flashing mode or reset (restart) the board. Some boards don’t have the BOOT button. Usually, these boards go into flashing mode automatically.
- Pin configuration and the number of pins. To properly use the ESP32 in your projects, you need to have access to the board pinout (like a map that shows which pin corresponds to which GPIO and its features). So make sure you have access to the pinout of the board you’re getting. Otherwise, you may end up using the ESP32 incorrectly.
- Antenna connector. Most boards come with an onboard antenna for Wi-Fi signal. Some boards come with an antenna connector to optionally connect an external antenna. Adding an external antenna increases your Wi-Fi range.
- Battery connector. If you want to power your ESP32 using batteries, there are development boards that come with connectors for LiPo batteries—this can be handier. You can also power a “regular” ESP32 with batteries through the power pins.
- Extra hardware features. There are ESP32 development boards with extra hardware features. For example, some may come with a built-in OLED display, a LoRa module, a SIM800 module (for GSM and GPRS), a battery holder, a camera, or others.
What is the best ESP32 development board for beginners?
The following table shows a recap of the ESP32 DEVKIT V1 DOIT board features and also specs:
This particular ESP32 board comes with 36 pins, 18 on each side. We suggest the complying with tutorials to obtain begun:
Also, do not forget to take an appearance at the ESP32 pinout to find out exactly how to utilize its GPIOs:
If you’re significant concerning finding out about the ESP32, we advise taking a look at our best-selling eBook:
You can also inspect all our free ESP32 tutorials and also guides on the adhering to web link:
ESP32 DEVKIT DOIT
If you like ESP32 make certain you, so you do not miss out on future tasks.
The picture below shows the ESP32 DEVKIT DOIT V1 board, version with 36 GPIO pins.
Specifications – ESP32 DEVKIT V1 DOIT
The following table shows a summary of the ESP32 DEVKIT V1 DOIT board features and specifications:
| Number of cores | 2 (dual core) |
| Wi-Fi | 2.4 GHz up to 150 Mbits/s |
| Bluetooth | BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) and legacy Bluetooth |
| Architecture | 32 bits |
| Clock frequency | Up to 240 MHz |
| RAM | 512 KB |
| Pins | 30, 36, or 38 (depending on the model) |
| Peripherals | Capacitive touch, ADC (analog to digital converter), DAC (digital to analog converter), I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit), UART (universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter), CAN 2.0 (Controller Area Netwokr), SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface), I2S (Integrated Inter-IC Sound), RMII (Reduced Media-Independent Interface), PWM (pulse width modulation), and more. |
| Built-in buttons | RESET and BOOT buttons |
| Built-in LEDs | built-in blue LED connected to GPIO2; built-in red LED that shows the board is being powered |
| USB to UART bridge | CP2102 |
This particular ESP32 board comes with 36 pins, 18 on each side. The number of available GPIOs depends on your board model.
To learn more about the ESP32 GPIOs, read our GPIO reference guide:
It comes with a microUSB interface that you can use to connect the board to your computer to upload code or apply power.
It uses the CP2102 chip (USB to UART) to communicate with your computer via a COM port using a serial interface. Another popular chip is the CH340. Check what’s the USB to UART chip converter on your board because you’ll need to install the required drivers so that your computer can communicate with the board (more information about this later in this guide).
This board also comes with a RESET button (may be labeled EN) to restart the board and a BOOT button to put the board in flashing mode (available to receive code). Note that some boards may not have a BOOT button.
It also comes with a built-in blue LED that is internally connected to GPIO 2. This LED is useful for debugging to give some sort of visual physical output. There’s also a red LED that lights up when you provide power to the board.
ESP32 GPIOs Pinout Guide
The ESP32 chip comes with 48 pins with multiple functions. Not all pins are exposed in all ESP32 development boards, and some pins should not be used. The ESP32 DEVKIT V1 DOIT board usually comes with 36 exposed GPIOs that you can use to connect peripherals.
Power Pins
Usually, all boards come with power pins: 3V3, GND, and VIN. You can use these pins to power the board (if you’re not providing power through the USB port), or to get power for other peripherals (if you’re powering the board using the USB port).
General Purpose Input Output Pins (GPIOS)
Almost all GPIOs have a number assigned and that’s how you should refer to them—by their number.
With the ESP32 you can decide which pins are UART, , or – you just need to set that on the code. This is possible due to the ESP32 chip’s multiplexing feature that allows to assign multiple functions to the same pin.
If you don’t set them on the code, the pins will be configured by default as shown in the figure below (the pin location can change depending on the manufacturer). Additionally, there are pins with specific features that make them suitable or not for a particular project.
We have a detailed guide dedicated to the ESP32 GPIOs that we recommend you read: . It shows how to use the ESP32 GPIOs and explains what are the best GPIOs to use depending on your project.
The placement of the GPIOs might be different depending on your board model. However, usually, each specific GPIO works in the same way regardless of the development board you’re using (with some exceptions). For example, regardless of the board, usually GPIO5 is always the VSPI CS0 pin, GPIO 23 always corresponds to VSPI MOSI for SPI communication, etc.
How to Program the ESP32?
The ESP32 can be programmed using different firmware and programming languages. You can use:
- Espressif IDF (IoT Development Framework)
- JavaScript
- LUA
- …
Our preferred method to program the ESP32 is with C/C++ “Arduino programming language”. We also have some guides and tutorials using .
Throughout this guide, we’ll cover. If you prefer using MicroPython, please refer to this guide: .
Programming ESP32 with Arduino IDE
To program your boards, you need an IDE to write your code. For beginners, we recommend using Arduino IDE. While it’s not the best IDE, it works well and is simple and intuitive to use for beginners. After getting familiar with Arduino IDE and you start creating more complex projects, you may find it useful to use instead.
If you’re just getting started with the ESP32, start with . At the time of writing this tutorial, we recommend using the legacy version (1.8.19) with the ESP32. While version 2 works well with Arduino, there are still some bugs and some features that are not supported yet for the ESP32.
Installing Arduino IDE
To run Arduino IDE, you need JAVA installed on your computer. If you don’t, go to the following website to download and install the latest version: .
Downloading Arduino IDE
To download the Arduino IDE, visit the following URL:
Don’t install the 2.0 version. At the time of writing this tutorial, we recommend using the legacy version (1.8.19) with the ESP32. While version 2 works well with Arduino, there are still some bugs and some features that are not supported yet for the ESP32.
Scroll down until you find the legacy version section.
Select your operating system and download the software. For Windows, we recommend downloading the “Windows ZIP file“.
Running Arduino IDE
Grab the folder you’ve just downloaded and unzip it. Run the executable file called arduino.exe (highlighted below).
The Arduino IDE window should open.
Installing the ESP32 in Arduino IDE
To be able to program the ESP32 using Arduino IDE, you need to add support for the ESP32 boards. Follow the next steps:
- Go to File > Preferences.
- Enter the following into the “Additional Board Manager URLs” field. This will add support for ESP32 and ESP8266 boards as well.
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/espressif/arduino-esp32/gh-pages/package_esp32_index.json, http://arduino.esp8266.com/stable/package_esp8266com_index.json
See the figure below. Then, click the “OK” button.
- Open the Boards Manager. Go to Tools > Board >Boards Manager…
- Search for ESP32 and install the “ESP32 by Espressif Systems“:
That’s it. It will be installed after a few seconds.
After this, restart your Arduino IDE.
Then, go to Tools > Board and check that you have ESP32 boards available.
Now, you’re ready to start programming your ESP32 using Arduino IDE.
ESP32 Examples
In your Arduino IDE, you can find multiple examples for the ESP32. First, make sure you have an ESP32 board selected in Tools > Board. Then, simply go to File > Examples and check out the examples under the ESP32 section.
Update the ESP32 Core in Arduino IDE
Once in a while, it’s a good idea to check if you have the latest version of the ESP32 boards add-on installed.
You just need to go to Tools > Board > Boards Manager, search for ESP32, and check the version that you have installed. If there is a more recent version available, select that version to install it.
Upload Code to the ESP32 using Arduino IDE
To show you how to upload code to your ESP32 board, we’ll try a simple example available in the Arduino IDE examples for the ESP32.
First, make sure you have an ESP32 selected in Tools > Board. Then, go to File > Examples > WiFi > WiFiScan.
This will load a sketch that scans Wi-Fi networks within the range of your ESP32 board.
Connect your ESP32 development board to your computer using a USB cable. If you have an ESP32 DEVKIT DOIT board, the built-in red LED will turn on. This indicates the board is receiving power.
Important: you must use a USB cable with data wires. Some USB cables from chargers or power banks are power only and they don’t transfer data—these won’t work.
Now, follow the next steps to upload the code.
1) Go to Tools > Board, scroll down to the ESP32 section and select the name of your ESP32 board. In my case, it’s the DOIT ESP32 DEVKIT V1 board.
2) Go to Tools > Port and select a COM port available. If the COM port is grayed out, this means you don’t have the required USB drivers. Check the section before proceeding.
3) Press the upload button.
Some boards will automatically go into flashing mode and the code will be successfully uploaded straight away.
Other boards don’t go into flashing mode automatically, so you may end up getting the following error.
Failed to connect to ESP32: Timed out... Connecting...
Or something like:
A fatal error occurred: Failed to connect to ESP32: Wrong boot mode detected (0x13)! The chip needs to be in download mode.
This means the ESP32 was not in flashing mode when you tried to upload the code. In this situation, you should long press the board BOOT button, when you start seeing the “Connecting….” message on the debugging window.
Note: in some boards, a simple trick can make the ESP32 go into flashing mode automatically. Check it out on the following tutorial: .
Now, the code should be successfully uploaded to the board. You should get a “Done uploading “message”.
Demonstration
To see if the code is working as expected, open the Serial Monitor at a baud rate of 115200.
Press the ESP32 RST or EN button to restart the board and start running the newly uploaded code.
You should get a list of nearby wi-fi networks.
This means everything went as expected.
Installing ESP32 USB Drivers
After connecting the ESP32 board to your computer, if the COM port in Arduino IDE is grayed out, it means you don’t have the necessary USB drivers installed on your computer.
Most ESP32 boards either use the CP2101 or CH340 drivers. Check the USB to UART converter on your board, and install the corresponding drivers.
You’ll easily find instructions with a quick google search. For example “install CP2101 drivers Windows”.
Wrapping Up
We hope you’ve found this getting started guide useful. I think we’ve included all the required information for you to get started. You learned what is an ESP32, how to choose an ESP32 development board, and how to upload new code to the ESP32 using Arduino IDE.
Want to learn more? We recommend the following tutorials to get started:
Also, don’t forget to take a look at the ESP32 pinout to learn how to use its GPIOs:
If you’re serious about learning about the ESP32, we recommend taking a look at our best-selling eBook:
You can also check all our free ESP32 tutorials and guides on the following link:
If you like ESP32 make sure you , so you don’t miss upcoming projects.
Do you have any questions? Leave a comment down below!
Thanks for reading.