RS-232 workhorse, still in active production
The Texas Instruments MAX232D is a full-duplex RS-232 transceiver in a 16-SOIC package, packing two drivers and two receivers (2/2) for serial port conversion between TTL/CMOS and RS-232 signal levels.
5V-only supply — plan your rail accordingly
This part is strictly 5V-powered (4.5V to 5.5V). If your board runs a 3.3V logic rail, you will need a separate 5V supply or a level-shifter ahead of the transceiver. The 120 kbps data rate covers standard UART speeds up to 115200 baud with margin; no need to hunt for a faster part if your application tops out there.
Active lifecycle — no LTB worry
For new designs or sustaining a legacy BOM, this part is a safe pick from a lifecycle standpoint.
