Very large scale integration (VLSI) techniques allow for how many transistors to be packaged in a single chip?

Very large scale integration (VLSI) techniques have significantly advanced semiconductor technology, allowing for the integration of millions to billions of transistors on a single chip. The correct answer reflects that VLSI has become a standard in modern microelectronics, particularly in the manufacture of microprocessors, memory chips, and other complex digital circuits.

VLSI is characterized by its ability to consolidate a vast number of components into a compact form, which enhances performance, reduces costs, and increases efficiency in various applications. When the technology was first developed, the number of transistors that could be integrated was in the thousands, but as fabrication techniques improved, the count expanded to millions and beyond. In some instances, cutting-edge technologies now produce chips with transistors numbering in the billions, pushing the boundaries of performance and capability in the digital electronics field.

Thus, the evolution from thousands to millions—and even billions—of transistors is a defining feature of VLSI technology, leading to highly sophisticated and powerful electronic devices.