Have You Ever Seen an Ideal Op-Amp?

Real op-amps are far from the ideal textbook model. Using the uA741C and TLC081C as concrete examples, this piece walks through every major source of error and limitation: input offset voltage and current, bias current, temperature coefficients, common-mode and supply rejection ratios, gain-bandwidth product, slew rate, output swing and current limits, noise, THD, capacitive loading instability, RF rectification, and overload/saturation recovery. Datasheet specs are cited throughout to show how these nonidealities translate into real circuit errors, and practical mitigation techniques are offered for each.