Logic Gates – Definition, Types, Uses
Last Updated :
10 Apr, 2025
Logic Gates are the fundamental building blocks in digital electronics. There are basically seven main types of logic gates that are used to perform various logical operations in digital systems. By combining different logic gates, complex operations are performed, and circuits like flip-flops, counters, and processors are designed. In this article, we will see various types of logic gates in detail.
What is a Logic Gate?
A logic gates are an electronic circuit that are designed by using electrical components like diodes, transistors, resistors, and more. It is used to perform logical operations based on the inputs provided to it and gives a logical output that can be either high(1) or low(0). The operation of logic gates is based on Boolean algebra or mathematics. Logic gates find their uses in our day-to-day lives, such as in the architecture of our telephones, laptops, tablets and memory devices.
Types of Logic Gates
Logic gates can be broadly classified into three main categories :
AND GATE
An AND gate is used to perform logical Multiplication of binary input. The Output state of the AND gate will be high (1) if both the input is high (1), else the output state will be low(0) if any of the input is low (0).
The Boolean Expression or logic for the AND gate is the logical multiplication of inputs denoted by a full stop or single dot as :
A. B=X
The value of X will be True when both the inputs will be True.
Two Input AND Gate
Properties of AND Gate
The following are two main properties of the AND gate:
- AND gate can accept two or more than two input values at a time.
- When all of the inputs are logic 1, the output of this gate is logic 1.
OR GATE
OR GATE is most widely used digital logic circuit. The output state of OR gate will be high i.e., (1) if any of the input state is high or 1, else output state will be low i.e., 0.
The Boolean Expression for the OR gate is the logical addition of inputs denoted by plus sign (+) as
X= A+B
The value of X will be high(true) when one of the inputs is set to high (true).
Two Input OR Gate
Properties of OR Gate
An OR gate have the following two properties:
- It can have two or more input lines at a time.
- When all of the inputs to the OR gate are low or logic 0, the output of it is low or logic 0.
NOT GATE
In digital electronics, the NOT gate is one of the basic Logic Gate having only a single input and a single output. It is also known as inverter or inverting buffer. When the input signal is “low” the output signal is “high” and vice-versa.
The Boolean expression of NOT Gate is as follows
Y = Ā or
Y = A’
the value of Y will be high when A will be low.
NOT Gate
Properties of NOT Gate
- The output of a NOT gate is complemented or inverse of the input applied to it.
- NOT gate takes only one output.
NOR GATE
The NOR gate is the type of universal logic gate. It takes two or more inputs and gives only one output. The output state of the NOR gate will be high (1) when all the inputs are low (0). NOR gate returns the complement result of the OR gate. It is basically a combination of two basic logic gates i.e., OR gate and NOT gate.
The Boolean expression of NOR gate is as follows:
If A and B are considered as two inputs, and O as output, then the expression for a two input NOR gate will be
O = (A + B)’
The value of O will be true when all of its inputs are set to 0.
Two Input NOR Gate
Properties of NOR Gate
The following are two important properties of NOR gate:
- A NOR gate can have two or more inputs and gives an output.
- A NOR gate gives a high or logic 1 output only when it’s all inputs are low or logic 0.
NAND GATE
The NAND Gate is another type of Universal logic gate. The NAND gate or “Not AND” is the combination of two basic logic gates AND gate and the NOT gate connected in series. It takes two or more inputs and gives only one output. The output of the NAND gate will give result high (1) when either of its input is high (1) or both of its input are low (0). In simple, it performs the inverted operation of AND gate.
The Boolean Expression of NAND Gate is as follows
Say we have two inputs, A and B and the output is called X, then the expression is
X = (A. B)’
Two Input NAND Gate
Properties of NAND Gate
The following are the two key properties of NAND Gate
- NAND gate can take two or more inputs at a time and produces one output based on the combination of inputs applied.
- NAND gate produces a low or logic 0 output only when its all inputs are high or logic 1.
XOR GATE
In digital electronics, there is a specially designed logic gate named, XOR gate, which is used in digital circuits to perform modulo sum. It is also referred to as Exclusive OR gate or Ex-OR gate. it is used extensively in arithmetic logic circuits., logic comparators and error detection circuits. The XOR gate can take only two inputs at a time and give an output. The output of the XOR gate is high (1) only when its two inputs are dissimilar i.e., if one of them is low (0) then other one will be high (1).
Say we have two inputs, A and B and the output is called X, then the expression is
The Boolean expression of XOR Gate is as follows
X = A’B + AB’
XOR Gate
Properties of XOR Gate
The following two are the main properties of the XOR gate:
- It can accept only two inputs at a time. There is nothing like a three or more input XOR gate.
- The output of the XOR gate is logic 1 or high, when its inputs are dissimilar.
XNOR GATE
The XNOR is the combination of XOR gate and NOT gate. The output of the XNOR gate is high(1) when both the inputs are high (1) or low(0). In other words, the output of the XNOR gate is high(1) when both the inputs are the same. the XNOR gate can sometimes be called as Equivalence gate. In simple words, The XNOR gate is the complement of the XOR gate.
The following is the Boolean expression of the XNOR gate,
Y = A ⊙ B
Here, A and B are the input variables and Y is the output variable.
This expression can also be written as follows,
Y = AB + A’B’
We can also express the operation of an XNOR gate using XOR gate logic as follows:
Y = (A ⊕ B)’
XNOR Gate
Properties of XNOR Gate
The following are two key properties of XNOR gate:
- XNOR gate takes only two inputs and produces one output.
- The output of the XNOR gate is high or logic 1 only when it has similar inputs.
Logic Gates in Programming
Design and Implementation of Adders in Digital Logic
Advanced Digital Logic
Applications of Logic Gates
Logic gates are the fundamental building blocks of all digital circuits and devices like computers. Here are some key digital devices in which logic gates are utilized to design their circuits.
Here are some devices, where logic gates is used;
Advantages of Logic Gates
Here are some advantages of logic gates over earlier technologies:
- Digital vs. Analog: Logic gates provide clear, stable binary operations (0 or 1), unlike noisy and less accurate analog systems.
- Precision and Accuracy: Logic gates offer higher precision and accuracy compared to analog systems, which were prone to signal variations.
- Simplified Circuit Design: Logic gates allow for simpler, more efficient circuit designs compared to earlier systems with many components (e.g., relays, switches).
- Speed and Efficiency: Logic gates enable faster, more efficient processing compared to older mechanical or vacuum tube-based systems.
- Smaller Size and Integration: Logic gates allow for miniaturized, compact devices through integrated circuits (ICs).
- Lower Power Consumption: Logic gates use less power and generate less heat compared to older technologies like vacuum tubes.
- Greater Reliability and Durability: Logic gates are more reliable and durable, with fewer parts prone to wear and tear than older systems.
- Ease of Troubleshooting: Digital circuits based on logic gates are easier to troubleshoot due to their predictable binary nature.
- Scalability and Flexibility: Logic gates are highly scalable, making them ideal for designing complex systems like processors and memory units.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Logic gates are cheaper to produce and maintain compared to earlier technologies, such as vacuum tubes.
Disadvantages of Logic Gates
Despite their numerous advantages, logic gates have their disadvantages. which are discussed below:
- Complexity: The advancement and complexity of digital systems results in increasing number of logic gates and their interconnections, which causes designs that are very difficult to handle and troubleshoot.
- Propagation Delay: Small delay in the propagating signal is introduced with every logic gate. When several such gates are chained together, these delays can add up and have adverse effects on the overall speed and performance of the circuit.
- Noise Sensitivity: Even noise, interference, and interfering fields can make logic gates sensitive to errors in the output signal. Proper shielding and conditioning of signals at times are needed to reduce these effects.
- Power Dissipation: While logic gates are essentially low power, their dissipation can grow with the complexity of the circuit. Heavy energy loss can generate thermal energy which necessitates supplementary cooling systems.
Logic Gates For Competitive Exams
Conclusion
In conclusion, logic gates are essential parts of digital electronics that help control how information is processed. They are the basic building blocks of devices like computers, phones, and other electronic systems. By using different types of logic gates such as AND, OR, NOT, and others, we can perform a wide range of tasks, from simple calculations to complex problem-solving. These gates help make everything from basic electronics to advanced technology work smoothly. As technology keeps growing, the importance of logic gates will continue to play a big role in how we design and use digital systems.
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