Tutorials/Basic logic gates

Logic gates in Minecraft are a way of using redstone circuits in a manner that a certain combination of inputs, or redstone signals, achieves a certain output. They are similar to computer logic gates in a way, but are slightly different in their constructs.

Basic Info
Some basic info about Minecraft needed to understand redstone circuits and gates:
 * There are several items that can provide an input charge into redstone. These are switches, pressure plates, redstone torches, buttons, and detector rails.
 * Switches are most commonly used with gates because of their ease of use and the fact that they are easily made.
 * When redstone torches are powered, they go into an "off" state and stop providing power themselves.
 * Any block can have redstone placed on it except leaves and glowstone, with a few more exceptions.

Using Logic Gates
One uses gates when they need a different signal pattern than a simple on/off pattern, but a gate can be as simple as that: an On-On, Off-Off gate. However, other gates are used when one wants to have a signal go on when a certain combination of events happens. For instance, if you wanted to have a redstone lamp light only when two switches were both toggled to the "on" position, you would use a gate. If you wanted no signal when a switch is on, but wanted a signal when a switch is off, you would use a gate. Gates can be used in combinations to create complex signal patterns, and some have even became successful in creating redstone computers using logic gates. See Tutorials/Advanced Redstone Circuits for more info.

NOT Gate
A NOT gate, sometimes called an inverter, is a gate used when you want an opposite output from the input you give. For instance, when the switch, or input, is set to "on", the output will be toggled to "off", and when the switch is toggled to "off", the output will be toggled to "on".

AND Gate
An AND gate is used with two or more switches or other inputs. The output is toggled to "on" ONLY when both switches, or inputs, are toggled to "on". Otherwise, the output will remain "off".

NAND Gate
A NAND gate is the opposite to the AND gate. The output is toggled to "off" ONLY when both switches are toggled to "on". Otherwise, the output is set to "on". This gate also requires two or more inputs.

OR Gate
An OR gate uses two or more inputs. Whenever a switch is toggled to "on", the output is toggled to "on". The only time the output is "off" is when all switches are switched to "off".

NOR Gate
A NOR gate is the opposite of the OR gate. Whenever at least one switch is toggled to "on", the output is toggled to "off". The only time the output is "on" is when all inputs are toggled to "off". This gate also uses two or more inputs.

XOR Gate
An XOR gate is a gate that uses two inputs. In this gate, the output is toggled to "on" when one switch is "on" and one switch is "off". If both are "on" or "off", then the output is toggled to "off".

XNOR Gate
An XNOR gate is the opposite of an XOR gate. It uses two inputs. When both switches are "on" or both switches are "off", then the output is toggled to "on". Otherwise, the output is toggled to "off".