There was a time when you could find a DigiKey catalog on the desk or workbench of nearly every electrical technician and engineer. This paper catalog was a window into the world of electronics, helping us locate and then order our electronic components. It was also a way to learn about new technologies.
Like many of you, I cherished the old catalogs such as the well-loved example in Figures 1 and 2. How many hours did we spend perusing those pages thinking about our latest project and how we could integrate the new products? How integral was the DigiKey catalog to your learning experience?
Last update: 21 Jul 2026
Figure 1: Picture of a well-loved DigiKey catalog. At 15 years old, the pages are torn, and the cover is held together with tape.
DigiKey Catalog Availability
Things change.
Our reliance on paper gradually diminished starting sometime in the 1990s with the advent of the internet. Digital commerce provided access to information that we could only dream of in the past. A prime example is the datasheet. Instead of purchasing entire bookshelves full of datasheets and application notes, we could retrieve the latest information with a click of a button. Things further changed with credit card purchasing, real-time inventory, and fast shipping.
As a consequence, the DigiKey catalog fell out of favor. It was largely redundant, as we had all the digital information at our fingertips. The last DigiKey paper catalog, pictured in Figures 1 and 2, was printed in 2011.
Figure 2: Pages 682 and 683 of the 2011 DigiKey catalog showing Nuvoton Voice Technology and the Parallax Basic Stamp modules.
What catalog alternatives are available at DigiKey?
The DigiKey catalog is now online. Everything that was originally included in the catalog is there along with a wealth of information on the individual product description pages. This includes links to the essential manufacturer-provided datasheets.
We can find a great variety of resources on DigiKey’s home page. The “catalog” is replaced by the prominent search bar as shown in Figure 3. You can also peruse the pages using the PRODUCTS section located on the upper left of the large central window.
Our forward march with digital progress allows access to things that were previously unavailable. This TechForum is one such resource. While DigiKey has always had direct technical support (1-800-344-4539), tools such as the forum allow many-to-many communications. It also leverages the goodwill of a larger community to help answer your technical questions.
While you are on the primary page, be sure to see the FEATURED PRODUCTS section (just below the portion of the page shown in Figure 3). This scrolling bar provides pictures and a summary of new products. Also, be sure to see the TOOLS, SERVICES, and CONTENT sections. There you will find a variety of content describing individual products and how to integrate them into your latest design.
Figure 3: Picture of the DigiKey’s home page showing the location of catalog-related functions and the location of the help window.
Parting Thoughts
DigiKey has come a long way since I first met them 37 years ago. As a young man, I remember driving to DigiKey’s front door to purchase a resistor for a radio. That was a wonderful experience. I left with my resistor and a small ½-inch-thick catalog in hand to begin window-shopping and dreaming about new projects.
Today, I have the pleasure of writing articles on this TechForum. Personally, I’m torn when it comes to the catalog. On the one hand, I loved walking through the pages. But on the other hand, today there is a wealth of digital information the catalog could never supply. The ability to access datasheets alone is light years ahead of the old paper system. Also, the community building and social aspects provide a welcoming environment conducive to learning.
As we conclude, I kindly ask you to post a picture of your old DigiKey catalog. If you don’t have a catalog, perhaps you could post a picture of a DigiKey PCB ruler on your workbench.
Best wishes,
APDahlen
About This Author
Aaron Dahlen, LCDR USCG (Ret.), is a Senior Applications Engineer at DigiKey in Thief River Falls. His background in electronics and industrial automation was shaped by a 27-year military career as both technician and engineer, followed by over a decade of teaching.
Dahlen holds an MSEE from Minnesota State University, Mankato. He has taught in an ABET-accredited electrical engineering program, served as coordinator of an electronic engineering technology program, and instructed military technicians in component-level repair.
Today, he has returned to his home in northern Minnesota, completing a decades-long journey that began with a search for capacitors. Read his story here.