What does the term 'NAND' refer to in circuit logic?

'NAND' refers to a specific type of logic gate used in digital circuit design. It is a fundamental building block in electronics that functions as a combination of the AND gate and a NOT gate. The NAND gate produces a LOW output (or 0) only when all of its inputs are HIGH (or 1); in all other cases, it outputs a HIGH (or 1). This characteristic makes it critical for creating complex circuits, as NAND gates can be combined to form any other type of logic gate, such as AND, OR, and NOT. The versatility of NAND gates is essential in building computer architectures and performing various logical operations within digital systems, making it an important concept in electrical engineering and circuit logic.