Definition

Noun: A logic gate or digital circuit that implements the exclusive OR (XOR) logical operation. It produces a true output (often represented as 1 or a high signal) only when the number of true inputs is odd. For two inputs, this means the output is true if one input is true and the other is false, but not if both are true or both are false.

Usage

The term is used in the fields of computer science, electrical engineering, and digital electronics to describe a fundamental building block of digital systems. - The designer used an x-or circuit to compare the two data bits for inequality. - A basic x-or circuit can be constructed from a combination of AND, OR, and NOT gates.

Advanced Usage

• In Cryptography: XOR circuits are crucial in many encryption algorithms because of their reversibility property (A XOR B XOR B = A).
  • The stream cipher relies heavily on the fast operation of the x-or circuit.
• In Arithmetic: XOR circuits are used as a component in binary adders to calculate the sum bit.
  • The half-adder contains an x-or circuit to generate the sum output.

Variants and Related Words

• XOR gate: A more common synonym for x-or circuit.
• Exclusive OR gate: The full name of the circuit.
• Logic gate: The general category to which an x-or circuit belongs.
• Comparator circuit: An application of XOR gates; a circuit that outputs a signal when its inputs differ.

Synonyms

• XOR gate
• Exclusive OR gate
• Inequality detector (descriptive of its function for two inputs)

Related Phrases and Concepts

• XOR operation: The logical function performed by the circuit.
  • The XOR operation is essential for parity generation.
• XOR truth table: A table defining the circuit's output for all possible input combinations.
• XOR symbol: The schematic symbol (often ⊕ or a gate symbol with a curved line on the output side) used to represent the circuit in diagrams.

Noun

1. gate for exclusive OR; a circuit in a computer that fires only if only one of its inputs fire