Logic Gate Fundamentals

Discrete Math · Axiom Academy

LESSON Logic Gate Fundamentals Understanding the building blocks of digital circuits: from basic gates to universal gates that can implement any logical function. 1. The Seven Basic Logic Gates There are seven fundamental logic gates, each performing a specific boolean operation. The three most basic are AND, OR, and NOT, while the others are variations or combinations of these. 2. Truth Tables and Operations Truth tables show the output of each gate for all possible input combinations. For two-input gates, there are four possible combinations: 00, 01, 10, and 11. A universal gate is one that can be used to implement any boolean function. Remarkably, both NAND and NOR gates are universal—you can build any other gate using only NAND gates or only NOR gates. NOT: Connect both NAND inputs together AND: NAND followed by NOT (another NAND) OR: NOT both inputs, then NAND Real logic gates aren't instantaneous—they have physical limitations that affect circuit design and performance.

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