Pin assignment

The pin assignment shown below is an industry standard for small (80 characters or less) alphanumeric LCD-modules. To be sure always check the manufacturers datasheet!
To locate pin 1 on a module check the manufacturers datasheet!

Table 1, Pin assignment
Pin number Symbol I/O Function
1 Vss - Power supply (GND)
2 Vcc - Power supply (+5V)
3 Vee - Contrast adjust
4 RS I 0 = Command input/output
1 = Data input/output
5 R/W I 0 = Write to LCD module
1 = Read from LCD module
6 E I Enable signal (Data strobe)
7 DB0 I/O Data bus line 0 (LSB)
8 DB1 I/O Data bus line 1
9 DB2 I/O Data bus line 2
10 DB3 I/O Data bus line 3
11 DB4 I/O Data bus line 4
12 DB5 I/O Data bus line 5
13 DB6 I/O Data bus line 6
14 DB7 I/O Data bus line 7 (MSB)

4-bit Interface

Data bus lines 0 through 3 are not used when the module is operated in 4-bit mode. Commands and data are still 8 bits long, but are transferred as two 4-bit nibbles on data bus lines 4 through 7. The most significant nibble (bits 4 through 7) is transferred first, followed by the least-significant nibble (bits 0 through 3).