Overview
Definition
Design Rule Check (DRC) is the process of validating the PCB against predefined design rules and constraints. DRC ensures electrical correctness, mechanical correctness, manufacturing readiness, assembly readiness, and compliance with project standards. Even a visually perfect PCB may contain hidden violations that can cause fabrication or assembly failures.
Objective
Detect, analyze, and resolve all PCB rule violations before final release.
Why it matters
Unresolved DRC errors can cause electrical shorts, open connections, manufacturing defects, assembly failures, mechanical conflicts, and reliability issues. A clean DRC is one of the most important milestones in PCB design.
Inputs
- Completed Routing
- Approved Design Rules
- Approved Stack-up
- Approved Placement
- PCB Database
Outputs
- Clean DRC Report
- Violation Resolution Report
- Verified PCB Design
- Release-Ready Layout
Common mistakes
- Ignoring DRC warnings
- Using relaxed rules temporarily
- Fixing symptoms instead of root causes
- Skipping final DRC run
- Ignoring mechanical violations
- Not rechecking after corrections
Related steps
Detailed Workflow
Detailed implementation workflow
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- Practical workflow
- Engineer checklist
- Standards
- Industry examples
- Engineer tips
- Common mistakes
Interactive Checklist
Trackable engineer checklist
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Standards
Industry standards reference
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Industry Examples
Industry-specific implementation
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- Automotive
- Industrial
- Medical
- Defense
- Aerospace
- Consumer
- Telecom
- ATE
Board Type Examples
Per board-type guidance
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- Rigid
- Flex
- Rigid-Flex
- RF
- High-Speed
- Metal Core
- HDI
Practical Design Considerations
Lessons learned from real projects
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- Lessons learned
- Real projects
- Case studies
- Design reviews
Tools & Resources
Verification Tool
Altium DRC Engine
Verification Tool
Cadence Constraint Manager
Verification Tool
Siemens Verification Tools
Verification Tool
KiCad DRC
CAM/DFM Tool
CAM350
DFM Tool
Valor NPI
Documentation Tool
DownStream BluePrint
DFM Tool
PCB Fabricator DFM Tools
Step Tool
DRC Severity Analyzer Tool
DRC Severity Analyzer Tool
Classify DRC violations and prioritize fixes by severity.
Knowledge Check
Optional self assessment — no pass/fail, no mandatory completion.
1. What is the primary purpose of DRC?
2. Which violation is considered critical?
3. Why should DRC be rerun after fixes?
4. What is an Open Net?
5. When should DRC sign-off occur?
Completion
Mark Step 8 as complete
Finish the checklist or self-assess, then mark complete.