Binary decoder

There are several types of binary decoders, but in all cases a decoder is an electronic circuit with multiple input and multiple output signals, which converts every unique combination of input states to a specific combination of output states.

When the enable input is negated (disabled), all decoder outputs are forced to their inactive states.

In the latter case the decoder may be synthesized by means of a hardware description language such as VHDL or Verilog.

Unlike the 1-of-n (one-hot) decoder, multiple output bits can be asserted for each input value.

These decoders can be used in DACs where each bit is equally weighted, and circuits that require a binary mask or window.