Introduction to LabVIEW

LabVIEW (Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench) is a graphical programming environment developed by National Instruments (NI). It is widely used for *data acquisition, instrument control, industrial automation, and test automation. LabVIEW allows users to create programs using a visual interface called a **block diagram*, rather than traditional text-based programming.

Key Features of LabVIEW

1. Graphical Programming

Uses a drag-and-drop interface with function blocks, making it intuitive and easy to use.

Programs are designed as Virtual Instruments (VIs), where each VI consists of a *Front Panel (UI)* and a Block Diagram (logic flow).

2. Data Acquisition and Instrument Control

Supports real-time data collection from sensors, DAQ devices, and instruments via USB, GPIB, RS-232, and Ethernet.

Compatible with a wide range of hardware, including NI DAQ devices and third-party instruments.

3. Parallel Execution LabVIEW enables multi-threading and parallel execution, making it ideal for real-