Digital Circuit: Input 1 Input 2 Output
Digital Circuit: Input 1 Input 2 Output
The AND gate is so named because, if 0 is called "false" and 1 is called "true," the gate acts in
the same way as the logical "and" operator. The following illustration and table show the circuit
symbol and logic combinations for an AND gate. (In the symbol, the input terminals are at left
and the output terminal is at right.) The output is "true" when both inputs are "true." Otherwise,
the output is "false."
AND gate
1
1
1 1 1
The OR gate gets its name from the fact that it behaves after the fashion of the logical inclusive
"or." The output is "true" if either or both of the inputs are "true." If both inputs are "false," then
the output is "false."
OR gate
1 1
1 1
1 1 1
XOR gate
1 1
1 1
1 1
A logical inverter , sometimes called a NOT gate to differentiate it from other types of electronic
inverter devices, has only one input. It reverses the logic state.
1
1
The NAND gate operates as an AND gate followed by a NOT gate. It acts in the manner of the
logical operation "and" followed by negation. The output is "false" if both inputs are "true."
Otherwise, the output is "true."
NAND gate
1
1 1
1 1
1 1
The NOR gate is a combination OR gate followed by an inverter. Its output is "true" if both
inputs are "false." Otherwise, the output is "false."
NOR gate
1
1
1
1 1
The XNOR (exclusive-NOR) gate is a combination XOR gate followed by an inverter. Its output
is "true" if the inputs are the same, and"false" if the inputs are different.
XNOR gate
1
1
1
1 1 1
Using combinations of logic gates, complex operations can be performed. In theory, there is no
limit to the number of gates that can be arrayed together in a single device. But in practice, there
is a limit to the number of gates that can be packed into a given physical space. Arrays of logic
gates are found in digital integrated circuits (ICs). As IC technology advances, the required
physical volume for each individual logic gate decreases and digital devices of the same or
smaller size become capable of performing ever-more-complicated operations at ever-increasing
speeds.