how is it possible for computer chips to have billions of transistors?

Question

Aren’t transistors physical things? How is it possible to manufacture billions, especially within the small size of a computer chip?

I saw the Apple m2 chip has 20 billion transistors – it just seems incomprehensible that that many can be manufactured.. they could be microscopic, but 20 billion is still an absurd number

In: 2283

Answer 1

Answer: Similar to how a book can have a million letters.

Transistors aren’t physical things created and attached to to the chip. They are printed on the chip. It takes many layers, special light, and complicated chemicals, but it is quite like printing.