Which circuit operation will generate a failure condition when outputs are different?

The XOR (exclusive OR) operation is designed to output true (or 1) only when the inputs are different. Specifically, if you have two inputs and they are not equal (one is true and the other is false), the XOR operation will yield a true output. Conversely, if both inputs are the same (both true or both false), the output will be false.

In many logical or circuit-based designs, a scenario where the outputs are different can indicate a failure condition, especially if a consistent or expected output is required for system stability and integrity. The XOR operation inherently signals a divergence, or difference, which, in certain applications, may be an indicator of a fault or error in a system where uniformity is needed.

This behavior is distinct from the other types of operations mentioned. For example, both the NOR and AND operations require specific conditions to yield a true output, and the OR operation outputs true when at least one input is true. None of these operations inherently indicate a failure condition based solely on differing outputs, as they rely on combinations of inputs rather than the state of sameness or difference to produce their results. Thus, the XOR operation is uniquely identified as the one that generates a failure condition under the specified circumstance of differing outputs