I have always used vendor lists because they have chips I can actually get. I use www,mouser to look up chips and they usually have the datasheet right there where you can download it. You can't use a chip without a datasheet!
Back in the '70's I read whole books by National Semiconductor. That was based on the idea that if you don't know what's available, you can't imagine how to use it. You don't have to name what project you're going to do before you can read about what's available.
Well, that's the thing. I have used the following ICs... 555, shift registers, pics, bcd display drivers, mux
If I discover one that sounds interesting (from looking at projects people are working on youtube etc) I buy a chip, download the datasheet and have a play with it.
This is why I am sure there must be a list of these and other popular ICs in an introduction to electronics form somewhere? I just can't find it.
Back in the '70's I read whole books by National Semiconductor. That was based on the idea that if you don't know what's available, you can't imagine how to use it. You don't have to name what project you're going to do before you can read about what's available.
I work as a software developer using multiple programming languages... I figured I would approach it like I do my work. If I find out which functions are available to me, I can choose how best to achieve my goal with those tools at hand.
You can buy the books from National, you can download "application notes" from their website, or you can find a local company that sells large quantities of chips to assembly line companies and they will have several brands of OEM books for free. (That's what I call hitting the jackpot!)
**broken link removed** the Nat. Semi website. Look under "Tools" for a listing of ap notes and other info. The books they wrote are likely out of print and would only be available as used.
This is a very broad question as there are thousands of IC's. Are you interested in Analog, Digital? For basic logic devices I recommend a copy of the Texas Instrument TTL data book for engineers. It is from the 70's but even though the first TTL devices are obsolete they have their contemporary offspring that are pin and function compatible. For example the 7400 may now be replaced with 74HCT00 or 74VHCT00. Here is a link for the book. Looks pretty cheap. The TTL Data Book for Design Engineers Second Edition, The Engineering Staff of Texas Instruments (Hardcover ) Used Book available for Swap