Logic Gates in Digital Electronics

Logic gates are the fundamental building blocks of digital electronics. Each gate performs a
specific logical operation on binary inputs (0 or 1) to produce a single binary output. Here’s
a detailed look at the seven basic types of logic gates, their operations, symbols, truth tables,
and common applications.

AND Gate
The AND gate outputs 1 only if all inputs are 1. If any input is 0, the output will also be 0.

**Symbol**: D-shaped symbol

**Logical Expression**: Output = A • B

A B Output (A AND B)

0 0 0

0 1 0

1 0 0

1 1 1

**Application**: Used in circuits where multiple conditions must be true for an action to
proceed.

OR Gate
The OR gate outputs 1 if at least one of the inputs is 1. The output is 0 only when all inputs
are 0.

**Symbol**: Curved shape

**Logical Expression**: Output = A + B

A B Output (A OR B)

0 0 0

0 1 1

1 0 1

1 1 1

**Application**: Used where multiple conditions can trigger the same action.
NOT Gate
The NOT gate inverts the input. If the input is 1, the output is 0, and vice versa.

**Symbol**: Triangle with a circle

**Logical Expression**: Output = ¬A

A Output (NOT A)

0 1

1 0

**Application**: Used to invert signals in digital circuits.

NAND Gate
The NAND gate is the inverse of the AND gate. It outputs 1 unless all inputs are 1.

**Symbol**: AND symbol with a circle

**Logical Expression**: Output = ¬(A • B)

A B Output (A NAND B)

0 0 1

0 1 1

1 0 1

1 1 0

**Application**: A universal gate used to build any other gate.

NOR Gate
The NOR gate is the inverse of the OR gate. It outputs 1 only if all inputs are 0.

**Symbol**: OR symbol with a circle

**Logical Expression**: Output = ¬(A + B)

A B Output (A NOR B)

0 0 1

0 1 0

1 0 0

1 1 0
**Application**: Another universal gate often used in digital design.

XOR Gate
The XOR gate outputs 1 if only one input is 1. If both inputs are the same, the output is 0.

**Symbol**: OR symbol with an extra curved line

**Logical Expression**: Output = A ⊕ B

A B Output (A XOR B)

0 0 0

0 1 1

1 0 1

1 1 0

**Application**: Used in circuits for error detection and binary addition.

XNOR Gate
The XNOR gate is the inverse of the XOR gate. It outputs 1 if both inputs are the same.

**Symbol**: XOR symbol with a circle

**Logical Expression**: Output = ¬(A ⊕ B)

A B Output (A XNOR B)

0 0 1

0 1 0

1 0 0

1 1 1

**Application**: Used in circuits that check equality between signals.

Combined Logic Gates

Combining basic logic gates allows for more complex digital circuits with customized logical
operations. Below are examples of commonly combined gates, their configurations, logical
expressions, and truth tables.
AND-OR Combination
This circuit consists of two AND gates with outputs fed into an OR gate, outputting 1 if any
of the AND conditions are met.

**Logical Expression**: Output = (A • B) + (C • D)

A B C D A AND B C AND D Output (A

AND B)
OR (C AND
D)

0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 1 0 0 0

0 0 1 0 0 0 0

0 0 1 1 0 1 1

0 1 0 0 0 0 0

0 1 0 1 0 0 0

0 1 1 0 0 0 0

0 1 1 1 0 1 1

1 0 0 0 0 0 0

1 0 0 1 0 0 0

1 0 1 0 0 0 0

1 0 1 1 0 1 1

1 1 0 0 1 0 1

1 1 0 1 1 0 1

1 1 1 0 1 0 1

1 1 1 1 1 1 1

AND-NOT Combination (NAND Gate)

Combines an AND gate with a NOT gate to create a NAND gate, outputting the inverse of the
AND result.

**Logical Expression**: Output = ¬(A • B)

 A B A AND B NOT (A AND B)

0 0 0 1

0 1 0 1

1 0 0 1

1 1 1 0

OR-NOT Combination (NOR Gate)

Combines an OR gate with a NOT gate to create a NOR gate, outputting the inverse of the OR
result.

**Logical Expression**: Output = ¬(A + B)

A B A OR B NOT (A OR B)

0 0 0 1

0 1 1 0

1 0 1 0

1 1 1 0

AND-XOR Combination
Uses an AND gate and an XOR gate, with outputs feeding into another AND gate.

**Logical Expression**: Output = (A • B) • (A ⊕ C)

A B C A AND B A XOR C (A AND B)

AND (A XOR
C)

0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 1 0 1 0

0 1 0 0 0 0

0 1 1 0 1 0

1 0 0 0 1 0

1 0 1 0 0 0

1 1 0 1 1 1
1 1 1 1 0 0