What this decoder does on the board
The Texas Instruments SN74LS445N is a decimal decoder from the 74LS series. It takes a BCD input and drives one of ten outputs low.
Lifecycle and compliance — what it means for your BOM
However, the part is RoHS non-compliant — it contains lead in the solder finish or die-attach. That matters for any design that must meet EU RoHS or similar restricted-substance regulations. For legacy repairs or military/aerospace builds that have a leaded-solder exemption, this is not a blocker. For new commercial designs targeting RoHS compliance, you would need to look at a lead-free equivalent in the 74LS family or a newer logic family like 74HC or 74HCT.
Sourcing this part
Because the part is active and not on any phase-out list, lead times are generally standard for a 74LS-series logic IC — no extended broker chase needed. If you are filling a BOM line for a production run or a repair, this is a straightforward line item to qualify.
