Moore’s Law observes that the number of transistors in a microchip will double every two years and this concept is something computer science students will encounter throughout their studies. Below we explore Moore’s Law in more detail and ask if it’s still relevant today.
Written by Grant Longstaff. Published 19 May 2025.
What is Moore’s Law?
Moore’s Law refers to the observation that the number of components on a chip doubles every two years. This growth means the power of computers and other devices continuously becomes faster at processing information, smaller in size and cheaper to manufacture.
Moore’s Law was first described in 1965 by Gordon Moore, a co-founder of Intel, in an article for Electronics Magazine titled “The Future of Integrated Electronics”. In this article Moore outlined and predicted a doubling of components every year for the next ten years. In 1975 he reevaluated his observations, instead stating the doubling would occur every two years. As time passed Moore’s observations became a driving force for companies to push the limits of what was achievable and helped drive innovation.
It’s worth noting that although it is referred to as a law, Moore’s Law is actually based on empirical evidence and not a scientific law. It also wasn’t Moore himself who named the observation. Carver Mead, a professor at the California Institute of Technology, first used the name “Moore’s Law” in 1975. Something which Moore himself didn’t care for.
Moore’s Law in practice
Moore's Law has held true for decades. If you take Moore’s Law and apply it to computing, you can see how Moore’s observations were accurate and reflect developments throughout the tech industry.
Dr Paul Sant, our Head of Computer Science, points out “the rapid increase in Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) allowed for significant miniaturisation of the electronic components in microcomputers and PCs. This carried on for nearly 20 years, with the speed of processors and the amount of storage doubling roughly every 18 months.”
The constant growth in computing efficiency, has helped make technology more accessible to more people. The cost of manufacturing devices has also decreased, which again drives access to technology. The power of computers has increased and yet the machines have become smaller. For instance, compare the huge, room sized computers of the past to the smartphones and Apple watches of today.
Is Moore’s Law still relevant?
This can be a difficult question to answer. One of Moore’s observations was that components would become smaller and smaller; however, this reduction has slowed in recent years due to physical limitations. We asked Dr Paul Sant about this, and he commented:
“The laws of physics came into effect, meaning that the pace slowed down as ‘quantum effects’ began to become a reality. However, this is not all bad news, as physicists and computer scientists are now looking to harness quantum mechanics to create a new generation of machine architecture, the promise of which could help solve age-old problems in computer science. In turn, there is also concern for those working in cyber security as decades old and reliable forms of encryption could be a threat, but we’re not quite there yet.”
As the sector evolves, the heart of Moore’s Law is very much alive. For example, consider the recent advancements in AI and machine learning, our hyperconnectivity, the Internet of Things and quantum mechanics. However, with each development comes new challenges and hurdles to overcome. Technology is constantly evolving and changing, and so it might be time to reevaluate how we apply Moore’s Law to computing today.
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