Logic gates are discrete gate functions — AND, OR, NAND, NOR, NOT, XOR, XNOR, and buffers — packaged in small-scale integration ICs. They're still the right tool for glue logic, level translation, signal buffering, and simple combinational functions where pulling in a CPLD or MCU is overkill for the job.

The dominant family is 74-series CMOS. Within it: 74HC runs from 2–6V with fast switching (7–15 ns propagation delay typical) and CMOS input thresholds — standard for general 5V work. 74HCT shares the same pinout but accepts TTL-level inputs (VIL max 0.8V, VIH min 2.0V), making it the bridging part when you have legacy 5V TTL driving CMOS logic. 74LVC operates at 1.65–3.6V and most variants have 5V-tolerant inputs, which makes it the go-to for 3.3V systems that still talk to 5V peripheral interfaces — check the specific datasheet, not every part in the family carries the tolerance. For sub-2V and very high-speed applications, 74ALVC and 74AUC push further down. Original bipolar TTL (plain 7400, 7400L, 7400LS) is obsolete — don't spec it.

Selection turns on a handful of parameters: supply voltage range, output drive (IOH/IOL matters when you're driving multiple loads or an LED directly), propagation delay in timing-sensitive paths, input threshold compatibility, and package. Single gates come in SOT-23; quad and hex packages are typically SOIC or TSSOP.

Uses include level shifting between 3.3V and 5V domains, bus buffering and fanout expansion, NAND-gate flip-flop implementations, edge detection, and simple state machines where a CPLD would be oversized.

TRX sources logic ICs from Texas Instruments, NXP, ON Semiconductor, and Nexperia through authorised distribution. There's no minimum order — pull a few to validate before committing to production quantities. In-stock lines ship to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, and Pretoria. For parts that need to be sourced, we'll quote an actual lead time.

Send us your part number or describe the application — we'll come back with availability and pricing.