Katana VentraIP

Open-loop gain

The open-loop gain of an electronic amplifier is the gain obtained when no overall feedback is used in the circuit.

The open-loop gain of many electronic amplifiers is exceedingly high (by design) – an ideal operational amplifier (op-amp) has infinite open-loop gain. Typically an op-amp may have a maximal open-loop gain of around , or 100 dB. An op-amp with a large open-loop gain offers high precision when used as an inverting amplifier.


Normally, negative feedback is applied around an amplifier with high open-loop gain, to reduce the gain of the complete circuit to a desired value.

Operational amplifiers[edit]

The open-loop gain of an operational amplifier falls very rapidly with increasing frequency. Along with slew rate, this is one of the reasons why operational amplifiers have limited bandwidth.

Gain–bandwidth product

(includes both the open-loop gain and the feedback attenuation)

Loop gain

Summary of negative feedback amplifier terms