gate

hardware A low-level digital logic component. Gates

perform Boolean functions (e.g. AND, NOT), store

bits of data (e.g. a flip-flop), and connect and

disconnect various parts of the overall circuit to control the

flow of data (tri-state buffer).

In a CPU, the term applies particularly to the buffers that

route data between the various functional units. Each gate

allows data to flow from one unit to another or enables data

from one output onto a certain bus.

(1999-09-02)