The voltage and current at specified points in the circuits of analog chips vary continuously over time.
In contrast, digital chips only assign meaning to voltages or currents at discrete levels.
Inductors tend to be avoided because of their large physical size, and difficulties incorporating them into monolithic semiconductor ICs.
Some of the benefits of this mixed technology include load protection, reduced parts count, and higher reliability.
Some examples of long-lived and well-known analog chips are the 741 operational amplifier, and the 555 timer IC.