ESP8266EX offers a complete and self-contained WiFi networking solution; it can be used to host the
application or to offload WiFi networking functions from another application processor.
When ESP8266EX hosts the application, it boots up directly from an external flash. In has integrated
cache to improve the performance of the system in such applications.
Alternately, serving as a WiFi adapter, wireless internet access can be added to any micro controllerbased
design with simple connectivity (SPI/SDIO or I2C/UART interface).
ESP8266EX is among the most integrated WiFi chip in the industry; it integrates the antenna
switches, RF balun, power amplifier, low noise receive amplifier, filters, power management modules,
it requires minimal external circuitry, and the entire solution, including front-end module, is designed
to occupy minimal PCB area.
ESP8266EX also integrates an enhanced version of Tensilica’s L106 Diamond series 32-bit processor,
with on-chip SRAM, besides the WiFi functionalities. ESP8266EX is often integrated with external
sensors and other application specific devices through its GPIOs; sample codes for such applications
are provided in the software development kit (SDK)