01/06/2026
4:1 Channel Multiplexer:
A 4:1 multiplexer (MUX) is a digital circuit that selects one of four input signals and sends it to a single output. The four data inputs are labeled A, B, C, and D, while the two select lines, a and b, determine which input is connected to the output Q. Because there are two select lines, four different input combinations can be selected.
When a=0 and b=0, input A appears at the output. When a=1 and b=0, input B is selected. When a=0 and b=1, input C is selected. When a=1 and b=1, input D is connected to the output. This allows multiple signals to share a single communication path efficiently.
The circuit shown uses NAND gates to implement the multiplexing function. The select lines and their complements control which input is enabled while the others are blocked. A multiplexer can also be understood as an electronic switch that routes one of several inputs to a common output.
Multiplexers are widely used in digital systems, communication networks, data routing, microprocessors, and embedded systems to reduce wiring complexity and efficiently manage data flow.