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)
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