/ˈlɑːdʒɪk ɡeɪts/
noun … “Basic building blocks of digital circuits.”
Logic Gates are fundamental electronic components that perform Boolean operations on one or more binary inputs to produce a single binary output. They form the basis of digital circuits, including processors, memory, and control systems. Logic gates implement basic operations like AND, OR, NOT, XOR, NAND, and NOR, which are combined to create complex computational and control functions.
Key characteristics of Logic Gates include:
- Binary operation: inputs and outputs are 0 or 1.
- Boolean logic: each gate performs a specific logical function.
- Electrical implementation: can be realized using transistors, diodes, or CMOS technology.
- Composability: multiple gates can be combined to form arithmetic units, multiplexers, memory, and CPUs.
- Deterministic: outputs are predictable based on the logic function and inputs.
Workflow example: AND gate behavior:
input_a = 1
input_b = 0
output = input_a AND input_b -- output = 0
Here, the AND gate outputs 1 only if both inputs are 1, illustrating the binary decision-making of logic gates.
Conceptually, Logic Gates are like tiny decision-makers: they evaluate simple yes/no conditions and combine them to make complex decisions in digital systems.
See Binary, Digital, CPU, Transistor, Boolean Logic.