What the ratings mean for the BOM
Cathode current of 70 µA is the minimum required to keep the shunt regulating; below that the output drops out of spec. The 12 mA output capability means this one reference can bias multiple ADC reference inputs or a string of comparator dividers — but the total load plus the set resistor current must stay under 12 mA or the output sags. The 8-CLCC ceramic package is a hermetic cavity — no plastic moisture absorption, no popcorn cracking during reflow. That makes it a natural fit for sealed modules, avionics black boxes, or any environment where conformal coating alone isn't enough to guarantee long-term drift performance.
Sourcing and compliance
Listed as Active on the lifecycle record with ROHS3 compliance — no last-time-buy risk, no end-of-life clock ticking. It is a current-production Maxim part, so new designs can commit to this BOM line without planning a respin for obsolescence.