Arithmetic Logic Unit

Herasymchuk Mary
In the field of computer science, the Arithmetic Logic Unit
(ALU) plays a critical role in processing data and enabling
computers to perform various operations.

Function of the Arithmetic Logic Unit

The Arithmetic Logic Unit, commonly known as ALU, is a crucial
component in any computer system. It is responsible for
performing both arithmetic and logical operations. It takes in
two input values, known as operands, and processes them
using predetermined instructions or operations. The result is
then stored in a designated memory location or a register.

Definition.
Arithmetic operations include addition, subtraction,
multiplication, and division, whereas logical operations involve
bitwise operations such as AND, OR, NOT, and XOR
The ALU receives its operands from registers and the control
unit determines the type of operation to be performed. In
order to process these operands, the ALU comprises the
following components:
• Arithmetic Circuit:
Responsible for arithmetic operations like addition, subtraction,
multiplication, and division.
• Logic Circuit:
Responsible for logical operations like AND, OR, NOT, and XOR.
• Registers:
These are used to store the input, output, and intermediate
results.
• Control Unit:
This component determines which operation to carry out and
controls the flow of data.
Arithmetic Logic Unit Example
Imagine that you want to perform an addition operation on two
numbers, 5 and 3. The ALU inside the processor takes these
operands as input and processes the result of the operation.
Here is a step-by-step example of how the ALU works in this
scenario:
1) The operands 5 and 3 are provided as input to the ALU from
the registers.
2) The control unit signals the ALU to perform an addition
operation.
3) The arithmetic circuit within the ALU processes the addition
of the two operands (5 + 3).
4) The ALU stores the result (8) in a register or memory
location for future use.
Similarly, if you want to perform a logical operation, such as an
AND operation between the binary numbers 1100 and 1010,
the ALU would process this through its logic circuit, producing
the result 1000.