Raspberry Pi facts for kids

"RPi" redirects here. For other uses, see RPI. For the dessert, see Raspberry pie.

Quick facts for kids
Raspberry Pi

various Raspberry Pi computers
Also known as	RPi, Raspi
Type	Single-board computer
Release date	29 February 2012; 13 years ago (2012-02-29)
Operating system	Linux (incl Raspberry Pi OS) FreeBSD NetBSD OpenBSD Plan 9 RISC OS Windows 10 Windows 10 IoT Core QNX and OS-less Embedded RTL's.
Storage	MicroSDXC slot, USB mass storage device for booting

The Raspberry Pi is a small, affordable computer that's about the size of a credit card. It was created in the United Kingdom by the Raspberry Pi Foundation. This project started to help teach kids and students about basic computer science.

At first, the Raspberry Pi became much more popular than expected! People started using it for all sorts of things beyond just learning, like building robots, controlling smart homes, and for fun electronics projects. This happened because it's cheap, easy to change, has an open design, and uses common connections like HDMI and USB.

Most Raspberry Pi computers are made in a Sony factory in Wales. In 2015, the Raspberry Pi became the best-selling British computer ever! In June 2024, the company behind Raspberry Pi became a public company, meaning its shares can be bought and sold on the London Stock Exchange.

What are the different types of Raspberry Pi?

The Raspberry Pi Zero, first released in 2015

The Raspberry Pi 3 B+, released in 2018

The Raspberry Pi 4 B, released in 2019

The Raspberry Pi Pico, released in 2021

The Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W, released in 2021

Raspberry Pi 400 Kit, released in 2020

The Raspberry Pi 5, released in 2023

There are three main types, or "series," of Raspberry Pi, and each has had several updated versions. Most Raspberry Pi computers use a special chip called a "system on a chip" (SoC) from Broadcom. This chip combines the main computer processor (CPU) and the graphics processor (GPU) into one. The Raspberry Pi Pico uses a different type of chip called RP2040.

Raspberry Pi Series

This is the original and most common series.

The first Raspberry Pi Model B came out in 2012, followed by the simpler and cheaper Model A.
Improved versions like the Model B+ (2014) and A+ were released later. These early boards are about the size of a credit card.
The Raspberry Pi 2 B (2015) was a big upgrade, with a faster quad-core processor and more memory (1 GB RAM).
The Raspberry Pi 3 Model B (2016) brought even more speed, plus built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
The Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ (2018) was faster still, with even better Wi-Fi and Ethernet.
The Raspberry Pi 4 Models A and B (2019) were a huge leap, offering much faster processors, more RAM options (up to 8 GB), and support for two screens at 4K resolution. It also uses a modern USB-C power port.
The Raspberry Pi 400 (2020) is a unique version. It's a Raspberry Pi 4 built right into a computer keyboard! This makes it easy to plug into a screen and start using it like a regular computer. It even has a special cooling system to make it run faster.
The Raspberry Pi 5 (2023) is the newest and most powerful yet, more than twice as fast as the Pi 4. It has its own special chip for connecting to other devices, a power button, and a real-time clock (RTC) chip to keep track of time even when turned off. It comes with 4 GB or 8 GB of RAM.

Raspberry Pi Zero Series

These are much smaller and cheaper versions of the Raspberry Pi.

The Raspberry Pi Zero (2015) was launched for just $5! It's tiny but still a full computer.
Later versions like the Zero W (2017) added Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and the Zero WH (2018) came with pins already soldered on, making it easier to connect things.
The Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W (2021) is a more powerful Zero, with a faster processor that makes it much quicker than older Zero models. It costs around $15.

Raspberry Pi Pico Series

This series is different because it's a "microcontroller" board, not a full computer.

The Raspberry Pi Pico (2021) costs only $4. It's designed for "physical computing," meaning it's great for controlling electronics, sensors, and robots, similar to an Arduino. It has its own special chip called RP2040, designed by Raspberry Pi.
The Raspberry Pi Pico W (2022) adds Wi-Fi to the Pico, making it easy to connect your projects to the internet.

How does Raspberry Pi hardware work?

The Raspberry Pi has changed over time, with different types of processors, amounts of memory, and ways to connect to networks and other devices.

Block diagram showing how different parts of Raspberry Pi models B, B+, A, and A+ connect.

The image above shows how parts of the Raspberry Pi connect. The Pi Zero models are similar but don't have the Ethernet or USB hub parts.

The speed of the processor ranges from 700 MHz on older models to 2.4 GHz on the newest Pi 5. The amount of memory (RAM) goes from 256 MB up to 8 GB. You use a MicroSD card to store the operating system and your programs, but some newer models can also use USB drives for storage.

Raspberry Pis have USB ports for connecting keyboards, mice, and other devices. For video, they have HDMI ports for modern screens and some even have older connections for older TVs. They also have special pins called GPIO (General-Purpose Input/Output) that let you connect and control electronic components like lights, motors, and sensors. Many models also have built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

What is the processor?

The "processor" is like the brain of the Raspberry Pi. Different models use different Broadcom chips:

Older Raspberry Pi models (like the first generation) used a 700 MHz processor.
The Raspberry Pi 2 had a faster 900 MHz quad-core processor.
The Raspberry Pi 3 models have 1.2 GHz or 1.4 GHz quad-core processors.
The Raspberry Pi 4 models use a 1.5 GHz (or 1.8 GHz in later versions) quad-core processor, which is much more powerful.
The Raspberry Pi Zero and Zero W use a 1 GHz processor.
The Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W has a 1 GHz quad-core processor, making it much faster than older Zeros.
The Raspberry Pi Pico uses a special microcontroller chip with two cores running at 133 MHz, designed for controlling electronics.

The Raspberry Pi 5 uses a 64-bit 2.4 GHz quad-core ARM Cortex-A76 processor.

The Raspberry Pi 5 has a very fast 2.4 GHz quad-core processor and a new graphics unit, making it the most powerful Pi yet.

How fast is Raspberry Pi?

The Raspberry Pi has become much faster over the years:

The first Raspberry Pi was similar in speed to a computer from the late 1990s.
The Raspberry Pi 2 was 4 to 6 times faster than the first one.
The Raspberry Pi 3 was about 10 times faster than the first Raspberry Pi.
The Raspberry Pi 4 is about 3 times faster than the Raspberry Pi 3.
The Raspberry Pi 5 is more than twice as powerful as the Raspberry Pi 4.

Can you make Raspberry Pi run faster?

Yes, you can "overclock" most Raspberry Pi models. This means making the processor run at a higher speed than its default. It's generally safe and won't usually void your warranty, as long as you don't push it too hard. The Raspberry Pi can automatically slow itself down if it gets too hot to protect the chip. Newer versions have built-in "turbo" settings that try to get the best performance without causing problems.

How much memory does Raspberry Pi have?

"RAM" (Random Access Memory) is like the computer's short-term memory, used for running programs.

Early Raspberry Pi models had 256 MB or 512 MB of RAM.
The Raspberry Pi 2 and 3 models usually have 1 GB of RAM.
The Raspberry Pi Zero models have 512 MB of RAM.
The Raspberry Pi 4 is available with 1 GB, 2 GB, 4 GB, or even 8 GB of RAM, which is a lot for such a small computer!
The Raspberry Pi 5 comes with 4 GB or 8 GB of RAM.

How does Raspberry Pi connect to the internet?

Older models like the Model A and Pi Zero need a separate USB adapter for Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
Model B and B+ have a built-in Ethernet port.
The Raspberry Pi 3 and Pi Zero W have built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
The Raspberry Pi 3B+ has faster dual-band Wi-Fi and Gigabit Ethernet.
The Raspberry Pi 4 and 5 have full Gigabit Ethernet and fast dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.

What special features does Raspberry Pi have?

Some Raspberry Pi models can act like a USB device when plugged into another computer. This means they can pretend to be a USB drive or an Ethernet adapter.
Newer Raspberry Pi models can start up directly from a USB drive, so you don't always need an SD card.
The Raspberry Pi 5 is the first model to include a "real-time clock" (RTC). This means it can keep track of the correct time even when it's turned off and not connected to the internet, as long as you add a small battery. Older models needed to get the time from the internet or be set manually.

What can you connect to a Raspberry Pi?

The Model 2B boards have four USB Type-A ports for connecting devices.

You can connect many things to a Raspberry Pi:

USB Devices: You can plug in a regular USB keyboard and mouse. You can also connect USB storage drives, game controllers, and many other USB devices.
Video: Raspberry Pi can connect to modern HD TVs and monitors using HDMI. It can also connect to older TVs using a special video port. It supports many different screen resolutions.

An early Raspberry Pi 1 Model A, with an HDMI port and a standard RCA composite video port for older displays

GPIO Pins: These are special pins on the board that let you connect and control electronic components. You can use them to turn LEDs on and off, read information from sensors, or control motors.

What are the J8 header and GPIO pins?

Most Raspberry Pi models have a 40-pin connector called the J8 header. These pins are often called "GPIO" pins, even though only some of them are actually used for general input/output. These pins are super useful for connecting your Raspberry Pi to other electronic parts for projects.

GPIO#	func.	Pin#	Pin#	func.	GPIO#
	+3.3 V	1	2	+5 V
2	SDA1 (I²C)	3	4	+5 V
3	SCL1 (I²C)	5	6	GND
4	GCLK	7	8	TXD0 (UART)	14
	GND	9	10	RXD0 (UART)	15
17	GEN0	11	12	GEN1	18
27	GEN2	13	14	GND
22	GEN3	15	16	GEN4	23
	+3.3 V	17	18	GEN5	24
10	MOSI (SPI)	19	20	GND
9	MISO (SPI)	21	22	GEN6	25
11	SCLK (SPI)	23	24	CE0_N (SPI)	8
	GND	25	26	CE1_N (SPI)	7
0	ID_SD (I²C)	27	28	ID_SC (I²C)	1
5	N/A	29	30	GND
6	N/A	31	32	N/A	12
13	N/A	33	34	GND
19	N/A	35	36	N/A	16
26	N/A	37	38	Digital IN	20
	GND	39	40	Digital OUT	21

What software can Raspberry Pi use?

Various operating systems for the Raspberry Pi can be installed on a MicroSD or SD card, depending on the board and available adapters; seen here is the MicroSD slot located on the bottom of a Raspberry Pi 2 board.

Raspberry Pi can run many different operating systems and programs.

Operating Systems

The most common operating system is Raspberry Pi OS (which used to be called Raspbian). It's based on Linux and is great for learning. You can also run other operating systems like:

Ubuntu (another popular Linux system)
Windows 10 IoT Core (a special version of Windows for small devices)
RISC OS (an older, different type of operating system)
LibreELEC or Kodi (for turning your Pi into a media center)
RetroPie (for playing old video games)

Many other Linux-based systems like Alpine Linux, Arch Linux ARM, CentOS, Fedora, Gentoo, Kali Linux, and openSUSE can also run on Raspberry Pi. Some non-Linux systems like Haiku and Plan 9 are also supported.

Programming and Applications

Raspberry Pi encourages learning programming with languages like Python and Scratch. Many other programming languages and tools work too:

Minecraft (Pi edition): A special version of Minecraft that lets you change the game world using computer code.
RealVNC: Software to control your Raspberry Pi from another computer.
Steam Link: Lets you stream games from your powerful computer to your Raspberry Pi.
Arduino IDE: For programming Arduino boards.
BlueJ and Greenfoot: Tools for learning Java programming.
C/C++ Interpreter Ch: For learning C and C++ programming.
Julia: A programming language for science and math.
LabVIEW Community Edition: A visual programming tool.
Mathematica: A powerful math program.
Thonny: A simple Python editor for beginners.
TensorFlow: An artificial intelligence tool from Google.

What accessories can you get for Raspberry Pi?

There are many cool accessories you can add to your Raspberry Pi:

Raspberry Pi 5 megapixel camera

Version 2 of the Pi Camera

Raspberry Pi High Quality Camera Module

Cameras: You can get a small camera module that plugs directly into the Raspberry Pi. There are different versions, including a "NoIR" camera that can see infrared light (great for night vision projects!). There's also a "High Quality Camera" for better photos.
Official Display: A touchscreen display that connects directly to the Raspberry Pi, turning it into a tablet-like device.
HATs (Hardware Attached on Top): These are expansion boards that plug onto the GPIO pins. They add new features like sensors, motor controllers, or even TV tuners! Each HAT has a small chip that tells the Raspberry Pi what it is.

Raspberry Pi 4 Model B with a "TV Hat" card (for DVB-T/T2 television reception) attached

Gertboard: An older board designed for learning, it helps you connect LEDs, switches, and other electronics to your Pi.

What is Astro Pi?

Astro Pi is a special project where Raspberry Pi computers are sent to the International Space Station (ISS)!

In 2014, the UK Space Agency launched the Astro Pi project. It uses a Raspberry Pi with extra sensors and a camera.
Kids in the UK could write computer code for the Astro Pi.
British astronaut Tim Peake ran the winning code on the ISS, collected data, and sent it back to Earth for the teams to analyze.
Later, the European Space Agency ran a similar competition called Proxima for students in the European Union.
In 2021, two Astro Pi computers were launched to the ISS again on a NASA Dragon 2 spacecraft.

How did Raspberry Pi start?

An early test version of the Raspberry Pi board

The idea for the Raspberry Pi was inspired by the old British educational computer called the BBC Micro from 1981. The names "Model A," "Model B," and "Model B+" are a nod to those original BBC Micro models.

The name "Raspberry Pi" was chosen because "Raspberry" follows a tradition of naming early computer companies after fruits. "Pi" refers to the Python programming language, which is very important for the Raspberry Pi.

In 2006, the first ideas for the Raspberry Pi were based on a different type of chip. Later, a group of teachers and computer fans, led by Eben Upton, decided to create a computer to inspire children to learn about computing.

The very first working prototype of the Raspberry Pi was so small it looked like a USB memory stick! It had a USB port on one end and an HDMI port on the other.

The goal was to sell two versions: one for $25 and one for $35.

Orders for the $35 Model B started on February 29, 2012.
The cheaper $25 Model A came out on February 4, 2013.
The even cheaper $20 Model A+ was released on November 10, 2014.
The smallest and cheapest Raspberry Pi yet, the Raspberry Pi Zero, was launched for just $5 in November 2015.

Launch and Early Days

Before Launch: In 2011, early test boards were made. They showed the Raspberry Pi could run Linux, play games like Quake 3 in high definition, and play Full HD videos.
First Sales: When sales started in February 2012, the websites selling the Raspberry Pi were overwhelmed because so many people wanted to buy one!
Manufacturing: The first 10,000 boards were made in Taiwan and China. Later, most Raspberry Pis started being made in the UK at a Sony factory in Wales.
Software Development: In July 2012, Raspbian (now Raspberry Pi OS) was released. This was a special version of Linux made for the Raspberry Pi.
Growth: By October 2013, one million Raspberry Pis had been made in the UK. By November 2013, two million had shipped!

Important Milestones

Compute Module (2014): A special version of the Raspberry Pi designed for companies to use inside their own products.
Model B+ (2014): An improved version of the original Model B.
Model A+ (2014): A smaller, cheaper version of the Model A.
Raspberry Pi 2 (2015): A big upgrade with a much faster processor and more RAM.
Raspberry Pi Zero (2015): The tiny, super-cheap version that was even given away with a magazine!
Raspberry Pi 3 (2016): Added built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Sales Records: By February 2016, over 8 million Raspberry Pis had been sold, making it the best-selling British computer. Sales reached 10 million by September 2016.
Camera V2.1 (2016): An improved 8-megapixel camera module was released.
Raspberry Pi Zero W (2017): A Zero with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ (2018): Faster and with better wireless features.
Raspberry Pi 4 Model B (2019): A major upgrade with much more power and memory.
More Sales: By December 2019, 30 million units had been sold.
8GB Pi 4 (2020): A version of the Pi 4 with 8 GB of RAM was released.
Compute Module 4 (2020): An updated Compute Module.
Raspberry Pi 400 (2020): The Raspberry Pi built into a keyboard.
Raspberry Pi Pico (2021): The first microcontroller board from Raspberry Pi.
Continued Growth: By May 2021, 40 million units had been sold, and 46 million by February 2022.

Raspberry Pi Cumulative Shipment Units (mil)

How many Raspberry Pis have been sold?

Raspberry Pi has sold a lot of computers!

By February 2015, over 5 million were sold.
By November 2016, 11 million units were sold.
By December 2019, a total of 30 million devices had been sold.
By February 2022, exactly 10 years after the first shipment, 46 million units had been sold!

Images for kids

Location of connectors and main ICs on Raspberry Pi Pico
Location of connectors and main ICs on Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 Lite
Location of connectors and main ICs on Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W
Location of connectors and main ICs on Raspberry Pi 1 Model A
Location of connectors and main ICs on Raspberry Pi 1 Model A+ revision 1.1
Location of connectors and main ICs on Raspberry Pi 1 Model B revision 1.2
Location of connectors and main ICs on Raspberry Pi 1 Model B+ revision 1.2 and Raspberry Pi 2
Location of connectors and main ICs on Raspberry Pi 3
Location of connectors and main ICs on Raspberry Pi 3+
Location of connectors and main ICs on Raspberry Pi 4
Location of connectors and main ICs on Raspberry Pi 5

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