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SOP-16 / DIP-16 · 74HC595
ActiveShift Registers
74HC595
Nexperia · SOP-16 / DIP-16 · Shift Registers
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Get a competitive quote within 24 hours. Volume discounts available. Shenzhen stock ships in 1-2 business days.
Overview
The 74HC595 is an 8-bit serial-in / serial-or-parallel-out shift register with three-state output latches, and it remains the cheapest way to add digital outputs to a microcontroller. Using only three control lines — data (DS), shift clock (SH_CP), and latch clock (ST_CP) — you can drive eight independent outputs, and by cascading the Q7' serial-out pin to the next chip's DS input, you can scale to hundreds of outputs from the same three MCU pins.
The two-clock architecture (shift vs latch) is what makes the 74HC595 glitch-free: bits shift through the internal register while outputs hold their previous state, then a rising edge on ST_CP atomically transfers the shift register to the output latch. This matters for LED matrices, seven-segment displays, and relay banks where a momentary wrong output could damage downstream circuits.
Electrical specs: 2 V to 6 V supply (works directly with 3.3 V or 5 V MCUs), ±25 mA output current per pin (50 mA total package limit), 100 MHz max clock frequency at 4.5 V, and 3-state outputs for bus multiplexing. The HC family has CMOS input levels with high noise immunity; the older HCT variant has TTL-compatible input thresholds for 5 V systems.
Common uses include driving 7-segment LED displays, expanding GPIO on Arduino/ESP32 projects, controlling relay banks in home-automation and industrial I/O modules, charlieplexing LED matrices, and multiplexing many outputs on PCBs with tight pin budgets.
Our Shenzhen warehouse stocks Nexperia 74HC595D (SOP-16), 74HC595N (DIP-16), and TI SN74HC595N variants. MOQ 2,500 pcs on reel for SOP-16 or 1 tube (25 pcs) for DIP-16.
Key Features
- 8-bit serial-in / parallel-out with 3-state latched outputs
- Cascadable via Q7' pin — hundreds of outputs from 3 MCU pins
- Wide 2-6 V supply, ±25 mA per output
- Glitch-free output updates thanks to separate shift and latch clocks
Typical Applications
- Seven-segment and LED matrix displays
- Relay bank expansion for home automation and industrial I/O
- GPIO expansion on Arduino, ESP32, STM32 projects
- Charlieplexed LED signs
- Test fixtures needing many digital outputs
Specifications
- Logic Family
- HC
- Bits
- 8
- Supply Voltage
- 2 to 6 V
- Output Type
- 3-State
- Max Clock Frequency
- 100 MHz
- Operating Temperature
- -40 to 125 °C
- Mounting Type
- Surface Mount / Through Hole
- Pins
- 16
- RoHS
- Compliant
Procurement Tips
For LED display applications above 8 digits, use the MAX7219 or HT16K33 instead — they integrate LED multiplexing, dimming and I2C control, eliminating dozens of external components.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 74HC595 and 74HCT595?
Same architecture and pinout. 74HC uses CMOS input thresholds (scales with Vcc), 74HCT uses TTL thresholds (fixed 2 V high, 0.8 V low). Use HCT when interfacing to 5 V TTL logic in a mixed-voltage system; use HC when driving from CMOS outputs at 3.3 V or 5 V.
Can I drive LEDs directly from 74HC595?
Yes, up to 25 mA per output pin, but total package current must stay under 50 mA. That means you can light at most 2 LEDs at 25 mA simultaneously, or 8 LEDs at 6 mA each with proper current-limiting resistors. For higher-current displays use the 74HC595 with a ULN2003 or a dedicated LED driver like MAX7219.
How many 74HC595 can I cascade?
Electrically you can chain dozens. Practically, propagation delay accumulates (~10 ns per stage at 5 V), so a chain of 20 chips at 10 MHz shift clock will see the last chip's data lagging by 200 ns. For long chains, slow the clock or use dedicated LED drivers like the WS2801 or TLC5940.
What is the purpose of the MR (master reset) pin?
MR (pin 10, active-low) clears the shift register to all zeros. It does not affect the output latch. Tie it high (Vcc) if you don't need it. Useful for synchronizing multi-chip cascades at power-up.
Is 74HC595 the same as CD4094?
Similar function but different pinout and electrical specs. CD4094 is 4000-series CMOS (slower, 3-15 V supply, only 6 mA output). Not directly interchangeable.
MOQ and lead time?
MOQ 2,500 pcs on reel for 74HC595D (SOP-16) or 1 tube (25 pcs) for 74HC595N (DIP-16). Shenzhen stock ships in 1-2 days.
Alternatives & Equivalents
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