<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE SHEET AT MARCH 30, 1997 AND THE CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENT OF
INCOME  FOR THE THREE  MONTHS  ENDED  MARCH  30,  1997 AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000097210                                       
<NAME>                        TERADYNE, INC.                      
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1.00
<CASH>                                         91,689
<SECURITIES>                                   106,567
<RECEIVABLES>                                  194,704
<ALLOWANCES>                                   1,936
<INVENTORY>                                    151,662
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               594,211
<PP&E>                                         577,559
<DEPRECIATION>                                 308,392
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1,096,814
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          196,413
<BONDS>                                        15,053
<COMMON>                                       10,438
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<OTHER-SE>                                     861,012
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   1,096,814
<SALES>                                        248,302
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               248,302
<CGS>                                          152,935
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  227,026
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             541
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                26,400
<INCOME-TAX>                                   9,240
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            17,160
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   17,160
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0.20
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0.20