What is the difference between a voltage converter and a regulator?

And how many types of converters are out there? voltage converter and then what?

 

A regulator will just drop the input voltage down to the level it is set for or adjusted to, as well as taking all the current and creating wasted heat. A converter is more efficient as it chops the voltage down at a high frequency without wasting power.

Common fixed regulators are the Lm78xx series, and variable ones are Lm317, 338k, 337,


Buck regulators..Lm2596,

http://www.linear.com/products/step-down_(buck)_regulators