dekóder

A dekóder is a device or circuit that converts coded information from one format into another, according to a defined code. In general terms, decoders translate encoded inputs into a set of outputs that represent the original data or a usable form of it. The term is used across electronics, communications, and data processing.

In digital electronics, a decoder is typically a combinational circuit that has n input lines and up to 2^n output lines. Each output corresponds to one of the possible n-bit binary values, and exactly one output is active for a given input. Many decoders include an enable input that gates whether the outputs respond to the inputs. Decoders are often implemented with basic logic gates or using dedicated integrated circuits.

Common types include binary decoders, which convert an n-bit binary value to a one-hot output, and BCD-to-decimal or BCD-to-seven-segment decoders, which drive display components. Decoders can also be designed to produce multiple valid outputs for more complex codes or to support enable and cascading options for larger networks.

Applications of dekóders include address decoding in memory systems, where a decoder selects a particular memory location based on the address lines; data routing and demultiplexing; and display driving, such as turning on the correct segments of a digital display. In broader communications and data processing contexts, decoders are used to reverse encoding steps applied during transmission or compression, contrasting with encoders that perform the opposite operation.