Octopart is a web-based search engine and data platform for electronic and industrial components headquartered in La Jolla, CA. It aggregates catalog, pricing, availability, and technical parts data with related content like CAD models, datasheets, and eval kits from distributors and manufacturers online, allowing engineers and purchasing teams to search, compare, and source parts from a single interface.[1]
Octopart was created by three physics grad-school dropouts, Andres Morey, Sam Wurzel, and Harish Agarwal, in 2007.[2] After coming up with the idea for the site and leaving graduate school, Morey and Wurzel worked with Paul Graham and Jessica Livingston's Y Combinator.[3] Octopart works with large distributors.[4]
In 2015, Octopart was acquired by Altium Limited[5], a multinational software company that develops electronic design automation (EDA) tools for printed circuit board (PCB) design and electronics development. Following the acquisition, Octopart continued to operate as an independent product brand while being integrated into Altium’s wider design and data platform.
By the mid-2020s, Octopart reported that tens of millions of users per year relied on its search engine and part data to support component selection, sourcing, and supply-chain analysis.[6]
Products and Functionalities
Component Search Engine
Octopart’s core functionality is its online search engine for electronic components. Users can search by manufacturer part number, keyword, or technical parameters to locate components across a large aggregated database. The platform returns a consolidated view of:
Offers from multiple distributors (including prices, order quantities, and lead times)
Up-to-date stock and availability information
Links to datasheets and technical documentation
Manufacturer information and series-level context
The company describes its system as handling millions of components and supporting both text-based and parametric search across detailed technical attributes.
BOM Tool
Octopart provides a web-based bill of materials (BOM) management tool that lets users upload or create BOMs, automatically match part numbers, and compare sourcing options for an entire project[7]. The BOM Tool can:
Match BOM line items to components in Octopart’s database
Aggregate offers from multiple distributors, including price breaks and availability
Respect preferred or approved distributors set by the user
Export costed BOMs or pre-built distributor shopping carts for purchasing (Octocart)
The tool is aimed at procurement professionals, supply-chain managers, and engineers who need to evaluate cost, risk, and availability across a full list of components rather than on a part-by-part basis.
API and Integrations
Octopart exposes its component data through APIs that can be integrated into other software systems, including internal procurement tools, inventory systems, and electronic design environments. Through these interfaces, customers can query the same data used on Octopart.com directly from their own applications or workflows.
Octopart’s data is also integrated into Altium’s products and related platforms in the Altium ecosystem, enabling component information and supply-chain visibility inside PCB design tools.
Features and Technology
Octopart combines search, data aggregation, and supply-chain information into a single interface. Documented features include:
Parametric search: Users can filter by detailed electrical and mechanical parameters (such as package, tolerance, voltage rating, or temperature range) to find parts that meet specific form–fit–function requirements, even without a known part number.
Smart query handling: The search engine is designed to recognize numbers, units, and fractions within queries and map them to technical attributes, improving relevance when users search by specs.
Alternates and replacements: Algorithms suggest alternative components with similar or compatible specifications, helping users respond to shortages, obsolescence, or pricing constraints.
Lifecycle and risk indicators: For many parts, Octopart provides information such as lifecycle status (for example, active or not recommended for new design) and other risk-related data to support long-term sourcing decisions.
Pricing and availability analytics: Users can view historical stock or price trends and compare current offers from multiple distributors to evaluate costs and supply resilience.
Datasheets and CAD models: Octopart links to or hosts datasheets and technical documentation and, through partnerships and integrations, provides access to PCB symbols, footprints, and 3D models for many components.
Users and Market
Octopart primarily serves professionals involved in designing, sourcing, and building electronic hardware, including:
Selecting components during schematic and PCB design
Validating that parts in a bill of materials are available and cost-effective
Identifying alternates during shortages or price changes
Comparing distributor offers for volume purchasing
Feeding normalized component data into enterprise systems through APIs
Business Model
Octopart’s service is free for end users to search and browse. Revenue is generated primarily by business customers that pay for traffic, sponsorship, or access to data via APIs and feeds[8].
Distributors and manufacturers can list their inventories and receive qualified referral traffic when users click through to purchase parts. Additional commercial offerings include data services and integrations for organizations that need large-scale or customized access to the component database.
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