Demuxer

A demultiplexer, often shortened to demuxer, is a combinational logic circuit that receives an input signal and selects one of several output lines to send that signal to. It essentially reverses the function of a multiplexer. A demultiplexer has a single data input, multiple output lines, and a set of selection inputs. The selection inputs determine which output line will receive the data input. For example, a demultiplexer with N selection inputs can control 2^N output lines.

The operation of a demultiplexer can be understood by considering its truth table. For each unique combination of the selection inputs, a specific output line is enabled, while all others remain disabled. This allows a single data stream to be routed to one of many destinations. Demultiplexers are fundamental building blocks in digital electronics and computer architecture.

Common applications for demultiplexers include data routing, where a data signal needs to be sent to a particular peripheral or memory location. They are also used in address decoding, where a specific memory address selects a particular output. In telecommunications, demultiplexers are employed to separate multiple signals that have been combined for transmission over a single channel. The number of output lines dictates the maximum number of destinations the demuxer can address.