Logic Gates
Vishal kumarUpdated on 02 Jul 2025, 05:45 PM IST

Logic gates are the fundamental building blocks of digital circuits. They perform basic logical functions that are essential for digital computation. Each gate operates on one or more binary inputs to produce a single binary output. The most common types of logic gates are AND, OR, NOT, NAND, NOR, XOR, and XNOR. These gates are used extensively in various electronic devices, from simple calculators to complex computer systems, enabling them to perform a wide range of operations.

This Story also Contains

  1. Logic Gates
  2. D'morgan's Theorem
  3. Solved Example Based On Logic Gates
  4. Summary
Logic Gates
logic_gate

Logic gates can be found in many everyday devices. For instance, an automatic lighting system in a room can use an AND gate to turn on the light only when both conditions are met: it's dark outside (sensor input) and someone is in the room (motion detector input). Similarly, a security alarm system might use an OR gate to sound the alarm if any one of several conditions is true, such as a door or window being opened. Let's discuss the logic gates and important relations to solve complex problems related to gates.

Logic Gates

In our day-to-day life, we come across many digital electronic devices. But do you know, for digital devices to function the way they do, a logic needs to be established between the input and output voltages. This is done by using a gate or a digital circuit that follows the logical relationship. They are called logic gates because they control the flow of information based on a certain logic.

Symbols are given to each logic gate and each logic gate has a truth table which displays all possible input-output combinations. So the truth tables help understand the behaviour of the logic gates. All these gates are made using semiconductor devices. The five most commonly used logic gates are:

  • NOT
  • AND
  • OR
  • NAND
  • NOR
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NOT Gate

A NOT gate is also known as an inverter because it simply inverts the input signal. It is a simple gate with one input and one output. So, the output is ‘0’ when the input is ‘1’ and vice-versa.

NOT%20Gate

A is input

Y is output

$Y=\bar{A}$

The truth table for a NOT gate is as follows:

NOT%20Gate%20Truth%20Table%20(1)

AND Gate

An AND gate has two or more inputs and a single output. In this gate, the output is 1(High) only when all the inputs are 1(High). The most commonly used symbol for an AND gate is as follows:

AND%20Gate

$A$ and $B$ are input
Y is output
$
Y=A \cdot B
$

The truth table for the AND gate is as follows

AND%20Gate%20Truth%20Table

OR Gate

Like AND Gate, OR gate has also two or more inputs and one output. For this Gate, the logic is that the output would be 1 when at least one of the inputs is 1. It means when the output is high when any of the input is high. The commonly used symbol for an OR gate is as follows:

OR%20Gate

$A$ and $B$ are input
Y is output

Relation between input and output
$
Y=A+B
$

And, the truth table for an OR gate is as follows:

OR%20Gate%20Truth%20TableNAND Gate

A NAND gate is an arrangement of an AND gate followed by a NOT gate. The output is 1 only when all inputs are NOT 1 Or the output is high when at least one of them is low. These are also called Universal gates. The commonly used symbol for a NAND gate is as follows:

NAND%20Gate

$
Y=\overline{A \cdot B}
$
$A$ and $B$ are input
Y is output

NOT + AND gate

And, the truth table for a NAND gate is as follows:

NAND%20Gate%20truth%20table

NOR Gate

Like the NAND Gate, the NOR gate is also an arrangement of an OR gate followed by a NOT gate. In this, the output is 1(High) only when all inputs are 0(Low). These are also called Universal gates. The commonly used symbol for a NOR gate is as follows:

NOR%20Gate $
Y=\overline{A+B}
$
$A$ and $B$ are input
Y is output

NOT + OR Gate

The truth table for a NOR gate is as follows:

NOR%20Gate%20truth%20tableD'morgan's Theorem

De Morgan's Theorems are used to simplify complex Boolean expressions, which is essential for designing and optimizing digital circuits. These theorems are fundamental rules in Boolean algebra that describe the relationship between the logical operators AND, OR, and NOT.

if $A$ and $B$ are input then
1) $\overline{A+B}=\bar{A} \cdot \bar{B}$
2) $\overline{A \cdot B}=\bar{A}+\bar{B}$
3) $\overline{A+\bar{B}}=A \cdot B$
4) $\overline{A \cdot \bar{B}}=A+B$

Some Important relations
$
\begin{aligned}
& A+A=A \\
& A \cdot A=A \\
& A+1=1 \\
& A \cdot 1=1 \\
& A \cdot 0=0 \\
& A+0=A
\end{aligned}
$

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Solved Example Based On Logic Gates

Example 1: Boolean relation at the output stage - Y for the following circuit is :

15

1) $\bar{A}+\bar{B}$
2) $A+B$
3) $A B$
4) $\bar{A} \cdot \bar{B}$

Solution:

The first part of the given circuit represents or gate whose output is A+B

The second part of the circuit is NOT a gate whose input is A+B and whose output is $\overline{A+B}=\bar{A} \cdot \bar{B}$

Hence, the answer is option (4).

Example 2: A system of four gates is set up as shown. The ' truth table ' corresponding to this system is :

image-20240723204534-1

1)image-20240723204534-2

2)image-20240723204534-3

3)image-20240723204534-4

4)image-20240723204534-5

Solution:

In the given system all four gates are NOR gates.

$\begin{array}{|c|c|c|c|c|c|} \hline \mathrm{A} & \mathrm{B} & \left(\mathrm{y}^{\prime}=\overline{\mathrm{A}+\mathrm{B}}\right) & \mathrm{y}^{\prime \prime}=(\overline{\mathrm{A}+\mathrm{y}^{\prime}}) & \mathrm{y}^{\prime \prime \prime}=(\overline{\mathrm{B}+\mathrm{y}^{\prime}}) & \mathrm{y}=\overline{\mathrm{y}^{\prime \prime}+\mathrm{y}^{\prime \prime \prime}} \\ \hline 0 & 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 1 \\ \hline 0 & 1 & 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\ \hline 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 & 0 \\ \hline 1 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \\ \hline \end{array}$

i.e

$\begin{array}{|c|c|c|} \hline \mathrm{A} & \mathrm{B} & \mathrm{y} \\ \hline 0 & 0 & 1 \\ \hline 0 & 1 & 0 \\ \hline 1 & 0 & 0 \\ \hline 1 & 1 & 1 \\ \hline \end{array}$

Example 3: Which of the following gives a reversible operation?

1)q13-1

2) q-13-2

3)q-13-3

4)q-13-4

Solution:

For reversible operation, NOT gate is used. If an input isAthen output=\bar{A}. The following circuit represents the NOT gate

physics-solution-1

Example 4: Which of the following circuits correctly represents the following truth table?

logicgt

1) image-20240723204556-6

2)image-20240723204556-7

3)image-20240723204556-8

4)image-20240723204556-9

Solution:

For circuit 1 ,
$
A \cdot B=\overline{Y+\bar{A}}=C
$

and the truth table for circuit 1 matches the truth table given in the question

Example 5: Identify the operation performed by the circuit given below:

7_clipped_rev_1

1) NAND

2) OR

3) AND

4) NOT

Solution:

71_clipped_rev_1

Behaves like a not gate so Boolean equation will be
$
\begin{aligned}
y & =\overline{A+B+C} \\
y & =A \cdot B \cdot C
\end{aligned}
$
whole arrangement behaves like an AND gate

Summary

Logic gates, such as AND, OR, NOT, NAND, and NOR, are the fundamental building blocks of digital circuits, performing essential logical functions. Each gate operates on one or more binary inputs to produce a single binary output. These gates are crucial for designing and operating various electronic devices, enabling them to perform a wide range of operations. Symbols and truth tables help in understanding their behaviour, making it easier to design and analyze digital circuits.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How do logic gates contribute to the implementation of comparators?
A:
Comparators are circuits that compare two binary numbers and determine their relative magnitude. They are built using a combination of logic gates. For example, a simple 1-bit comparator can be made using XOR, AND, and NOT gates to determine if two bits are equal, or if one is greater than the other. Multi-bit comparators are constructed by cascading these basic comparator units and using additional logic to combine their results. Understanding how comparators work is important for designing arithmetic circuits and decision-
Q: How do logic gates implement basic memory elements like latches?
A:
Latches are basic memory elements that can store one bit of information. They are typically implemented using a pair of cross-coupled NAND or NOR gates. For example, an SR (Set-Reset) latch uses two NAND gates with the output of each connected to an input of the other. This creates a feedback loop that can maintain its state even when inputs change. The latch can be set or reset by applying appropriate signals to its inputs. Understanding how these simple memory elements work is crucial for grasping more complex sequential logic concepts.
Q: How do logic gates contribute to the implementation of counters?
A:
Counters are sequential circuits that cycle through a predetermined sequence of states, often used for counting events or creating timing signals. They are implemented using flip-flops (built from logic gates) to store the current count, and additional logic gates to control the counting sequence. For example, a simple 2-bit counter might use two JK flip-flops with their outputs fed back to their inputs through AND and OR gates to create the correct counting sequence. More complex counters may use additional logic for features like up/down counting or parallel loading.
Q: What is the role of Karnaugh maps in simplifying logic gate circuits?
A:
Karnaugh maps (K-maps) are graphical tools used to simplify Boolean algebra expressions and, by extension, logic gate circuits. They provide a visual method for recognizing and eliminating redundant terms in logical expressions. By grouping adjacent cells in the K-map that represent '1' outputs, designers can identify the simplest sum-of-products or product-of-sums expression for a given truth table. This simplification often results in circuits with fewer gates, which are more efficient in terms of cost, speed, and power consumption.
Q: How do logic gates implement basic arithmetic operations like addition and subtraction?
A:
Logic gates are the building blocks for arithmetic circuits. For addition, half-adders (using XOR and AND gates) and full-adders (combining half-adders with OR gates) are used. These can be cascaded to add multi-bit numbers. Subtraction is typically implemented using two's complement addition, where the subtrahend is inverted and added to the minuend with a carry-in of 1. This process uses the same adder circuits with additional NOT gates. More complex arithmetic operations like multiplication and division are built up from these basic addition and subtraction circuits.
Q: What is the concept of race conditions in logic circuits, and how are they addressed?
A:
Race conditions occur in digital circuits when the output depends on the order in which input changes propagate through different paths in the circuit. This can lead to momentary glitches or incorrect outputs. Race conditions are particularly problematic in asynchronous sequential circuits. They are typically addressed by careful circuit design, ensuring equal propagation delays in parallel paths, or by using synchronous design techniques where all state changes are controlled by a clock signal. Understanding and mitigating race conditions is crucial for designing reliable digital systems.
Q: How do logic gates contribute to the implementation of shift registers?
A:
Shift registers are sequential logic circuits used to store and shift binary data. They are implemented using flip-flops (which are built from logic gates) connected in series. Each flip-flop stores one bit, and the data is shifted from one flip-flop to the next at each clock pulse. Additional logic gates are used to control the shifting operation (left shift, right shift, or parallel load). Shift registers are fundamental components in many digital systems, used for serial-to-parallel conversion, data storage, and in arithmetic operations.
Q: How do tri-state logic gates differ from standard logic gates?
A:
Tri-state logic gates have three possible output states: HIGH, LOW, and high impedance (effectively disconnected). The high impedance state allows multiple tri-state devices to share a common bus without interference. This is controlled by an additional enable input. When enabled, the gate functions normally; when disabled, its output goes into the high impedance state. Tri-state gates are crucial in bus-oriented systems and in reducing power consumption by allowing unused components to be effectively disconnected.
Q: How do logic gates implement parity checking in error detection systems?
A:
Parity checking is a simple error detection technique used in digital communication and storage systems. It's implemented using XOR gates. For even parity, XOR gates are used to count the number of 1s in a data word. If the count is odd, a parity bit is set to 1; if even, it's set to 0. This ensures the total number of 1s (including the parity bit) is always even. At the receiving end, the same XOR operation is performed to check if the parity is still correct, potentially detecting single-bit errors.
Q: What is the concept of fan-in for logic gates, and why is it important?
A:
Fan-in refers to the number of inputs a logic gate can accept. Most basic gates like AND and OR typically have 2 to 4 inputs, but some can have more. The fan-in is important because it affects the gate's complexity, speed, and power consumption. Gates with higher fan-in can reduce the number of gate levels in a circuit, potentially increasing speed, but they may also be slower or consume more power individually. Designers must balance these factors when choosing gates for their circuits.