> Lower Cost – They require fewer layers and manufacturing steps compared to multilayer boards. This results in very economical pricing per unit.

> Faster Lead Times – With fewer fabrication steps, single-sided and single-layer PCBs can be produced very quickly. Lead times range from 24 hours for prototyping to 5 days for production.

> Ease of Modification – It’s simple to make trace pattern changes on one or two layer boards. This facilitates engineering design iterations.

> Lighter Weight – Having fewer layers results in a thinner and lighter board weight. This helps reduce product size and cost.

> The substrate layer, which is the base material of the PCB.

> The conductive layer, which is the layer that contains the conductive pathways.

> The protective layer, which is the top layer that protects the conductive pathways from environmental damage.

> Limited circuit complexity – The lack of multiple layers restricts component density and routing options for more complex circuit designs.

> No internal power or ground planes – Without a continuous internal ground plane, issues with noise pickup and interference may arise.

> Lower component density – Component placement can be more spread out, resulting in larger overall board sizes.

> Limited thermal capabilities – Heat dissipation is restricted without thermal vias and internal power planes to distribute heat.

> Less durable – Single layer boards are more flexible and prone to bending stress compared to multilayer boards.

> Difficult impedance control – Controlling trace impedance and matched lengths is challenging with no reference ground plane.

> No shielding – Sensitive circuits or RF sections lack shielding from other board sections without multiple layers.

> Lower speeds – High frequency traces and components placement is restricted due to less optimized layer usage.

> Limited routing channels – With only one layer for signals, complex routing with traces spanning the entire board may be needed.

> No buried vias – Vias cannot be used to transition between internal layers since there are none.

> Plan component placement first. Position components to minimize track lengths and allow critical traces to run uninterrupted.

> Use surface mount devices (SMD) instead of through-hole parts when possible. This conserves routing space on the single layer.

> Route power and ground tracks first as wide traces along the edges or around the board. This provides a partial ground plane.

> Use vias sparingly as they consume routing space on the single layer. Minimize via counts through creative routing.

> Route tracks orthogonally using 45 or 90 degree angles when possible. Avoid acute angles that waste space.

> Use autorouters and design rule checks to assist with trace routing and catch any errors.

> Clearly designate inputs, outputs, power connections, and other interfaces with labels.

> Partition the PCB layout into sections for analog and digital circuits to prevent noise interference.

> Add generous clearance between traces and pads. Allow extra spacing for high voltage traces.

> Include test points for debugging and validation. Mark these clearly on the silkscreen layer.

> Simulate the PCB to verify proper functionality and routing before manufacturing.

> Substrate material: The substrate material is the base material of the PCB and is usually made of fiberglass or composite materials such as epoxy resin and glass fibers.

> Conductive material: The conductive material is typically made of copper and is used to create the conductive pathways on the PCB.

> Protective material: The protective material is used to cover the conductive pathways and protect them from environmental damage. This material is usually a resin or lacquer.

> Simple electronic devices – Single-sided PCBs are commonly used in simple electronic devices like alarms, timers, sensors, detector circuits, etc. where the circuit complexity is low.

> Prototyping – Engineers often prototype circuits on single-sided PCBs as they are inexpensive and allow quick design modifications.

> Education/DIY projects – Single-sided boards are widely used for creating hobby electronics, school projects, and DIY tech due to their ease of use.

> Low-cost consumer electronics – Products like simple toys, portable radios, flashlights, etc. often use single-sided PCBs to reduce cost.

> Testing new designs – Engineers use single-sided boards to test out new circuit ideas before moving to more complex PCB implementations.

> Low-frequency analog circuits – Simple analog circuits involving amplification, filters, and oscillators can be efficiently implemented on single-sided boards.

> Control panels – Many equipment control panels and instrument displays use single-sided PCBs for mounting switches, indicators, and displays.

> RF/Antenna circuits – In certain high-frequency circuits like crystal oscillators, simple antennas can be designed on single-layer boards.

> Power supplies – Linear and switch-mode power supplies generating low to moderate power output can utilize single-sided PCB layouts.

1. Preparing the substrate: The substrate material is cut to size and cleaned to remove any contaminants.

2. Depositing the conductive material: The conductive material is deposited onto the substrate using a deposition process, such as electroplating.

3. Patterning the conductive material: The conductive material is patterned using photolithography techniques to create the conductive pathways.

4. Applying the protective material: The protective material is applied over the conductive pathways to protect them from environmental damage.

> Double-Sided PCBs – These have copper on both sides of the board with components mounted on one or both sides. Double sided boards allow for more complicated tracing with the addition of vertical interconnects between layers.

> Multilayer PCBs – With four or more layers, these boards enable very complex circuit designs by stacking and interconnecting multiple thin PCB layers. Multilayer boards are ideal for sophisticated electronics requiring miniaturization.

> Rigid-Flex PCBs – Combining rigid board sections and flexible circuits together, rigid-flex PCBs provide dynamic mechanical performance for bending and folding applications.

> HDI PCBs – With trace spacing/width down to 2 mils, high-density interconnect (HDI) PCBs accommodate ultra-dense circuit packing and miniaturization needs. 

HDI technology facilitates advanced consumer electronics.

> Metal Core PCBs – With an aluminum or copper core for enhanced thermal heat dissipation, metal core PCBs enable high-power electronics and LED circuit designs.