Computer Science I / Hardware Description Thinking
Practice question · Sort into groups

Sort each fragment of a hardware description by the level it works at.

Groups: Structural · Behavioural

Hints
  1. Ask whether the fragment names components and wires, or states an intended effect.
  2. A structural description could be redrawn as a diagram without any thinking; a behavioural one could not.
Show the answer

Structural: The output of this multiplexer connects to the input of that register, Create four full adders and chain the carry wire of each into the next

Behavioural: On each clock edge, if reset then count becomes 0, otherwise count becomes count plus 1, The output is 1 whenever at least two of the three inputs are 1

Why

Structural descriptions say how parts are wired together and mirror a schematic; behavioural descriptions say what the hardware should do and leave the gates to the tool. Behavioural work is far more productive, which is why modern designs are written that way and only critical blocks are described structurally.

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