A buck converter, also known as a step-down converter, is a DC/DC power converter that provides voltage step down and current step up. The converter reduces the voltage when the power source has a higher voltage than VIN. A buck converter generally provides the most efficient solution with the smallest external components.
Unsure if a low-powered linear regulator or highly efficient switching regulator is a better option for your design? Learn more about Linear vs. Switching Regulators.