Standard Logic Gates (NOT, AND, OR, NAND, NOR, XOR)

Logic gates operate on Boolean inputs: 0 is false and 1 is true. Learn both each gate's behaviour and its drawn symbol. Inputs enter on the left; the output leaves on the right. A small circle indicates inversion (NOT).

Standard AND, OR, NOT, NAND, NOR and XOR symbols with inputs on the left and outputs on the right

Gate

When its output is 1

AND

Both inputs are 1

OR

At least one input is 1

NOT

Its single input is 0

NAND

Not both inputs are 1

NOR

Both inputs are 0

XOR

Exactly one input is 1

Worked comparison

For A=1 and B=1, AND and OR output 1, while XOR outputs 0. XOR is not simply another drawing of OR. NOT has one input; the other gates here have two.

Drawing practice

On paper draw each gate without looking, label its inputs/output, then compare with the symbol sheet. Check the curved AND/OR shapes, the extra input curve for XOR, and the inversion circles for NOT/NAND/NOR. State each gate's output for 0,0 and 1,1 before submitting the structured checks.

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Application: Gate behaviour

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Application: Gate behaviour

  1. For inputs 1 and 1, XOR output: [Space 1]
  2. For inputs 0 and 0, NOR output: [Space 2]
  3. For inputs 1 and 0, NAND output: [Space 3]
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