Several ICs are manufactured in packages with more pins than it supports. For example, the LM317 in an SO8 package has 4 VOUT pins and 2 N/C *(no connection)* pins. I often want to run traces through N/C pins to ease routing, but wonder if it would make them give up the ghost. ***If it exists, what is the standard or rule by which manufacturers follow concerning the electrical characteristics of N/C pins?*** Or do I have to scour the datasheet / do my own testing every time?

![LM317 SO8 pinout](https://i.stack.imgur.com/sNEvm.png)