EOL (End of Life)
Definition
EOL (End of Life) is a manufacturer's formal notice that it will stop producing a specific component. The announcement, often delivered as a Product Discontinuation Notice (PDN), starts a countdown: a Last-Time-Buy window, typically around six months, during which buyers can place final orders before production ends.
Why it matters
An EOL notice is the point where normal sourcing starts to break down. Once production stops, authorized distributors sell through their remaining stock and then show zero availability. If a design still needs the part, the buyer has three options: place a Last-Time-Buy covering remaining production and service life, qualify an alternate or second source, or find the part through the secondary market once authorized supply is gone.
The cost of reacting late is real. A single PCB redesign to remove an EOL part can run five figures in engineering charges plus weeks of schedule impact, which is why teams track EOL and PDN notices against their bill of materials as early as possible.
Related terms
- NRND (Not Recommended for New Designs): the lifecycle stage that usually precedes EOL.
- Last-Time Buy (LTB): the final-order window an EOL notice opens.
- PCN (Product Change Notification): the broader notice class that includes discontinuations.
Once a part is past its Last-Time-Buy window, 3E Technology indexes the brokers, surplus dealers, and specialty distributors that hold remaining EOL inventory. See the guide on sourcing obsolete electronic components for the full workflow.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does EOL mean for an electronic component?+
EOL (End of Life) is the manufacturer's formal announcement that it will stop producing a component. It triggers a Last-Time-Buy window, usually around six months, during which buyers can place final orders. After that, the part becomes obsolete and remaining inventory shifts to brokers, surplus dealers, and specialty distributors.
What is the difference between EOL and obsolete?+
EOL is the announcement that production will end, with a Last-Time-Buy window still open. Obsolete means the part is no longer manufactured or available from the maker at all. EOL is the warning; obsolete is the outcome once the last-time-buy window closes and manufacturer supply is gone.
Related Resources
NRND (Not Recommended for New Designs)
NRND means a manufacturer is phasing out a component: still available, but not for new designs. Here's what the status signals and how to react.
Last-Time Buy (LTB)
A Last-Time Buy is the final order you can place on a component before production ends. Here's how the LTB window works and how to size the order.
PCN (Product Change Notification)
A PCN is a manufacturer's formal notice of a change to a component, from a process tweak to discontinuation. Here's what PCNs cover and why to track them.
How to Source Obsolete Electronic Components: A Practical Guide
When authorized distributors run dry on an EOL part, here's the workflow for finding inventory, vetting suppliers, and avoiding counterfeits.
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