A logic gate is an electronic circuit that performs a logical operation on one or more input signals. The logic gate's inputs and outputs are electrical signals (voltages and currents) that represent Boolean values. Boolean values take on only two possible values, 0 and (or TRUE and FALSE). In most logic gates, the 0 or FALSE state is symbolized by a voltage level of approximately 0 volts while the 1 or TRUE state is symbolized by a voltage level of approximately five volts (+5 V).

The instructions that direct a computer's operation are known as machine code and are written as a sequence of binary digits (bits). These bits, physicalized as voltages on wires, switch specific logic gates ON (to high-voltage output) or OFF (to low-voltage output). Most logic gates accept two input bits and output one bit. If the inputs of a logic gate change value, its output also changes...