What is the primary function of a half-adder circuit?

The primary function of a half-adder circuit is to add two binary numbers. A half-adder is a digital circuit that performs the arithmetic sum of two single-bit binary numbers. It takes two inputs, typically labeled as A and B, and it produces two outputs: the sum and the carry.

The sum output reflects the least significant bit of the addition, while the carry output indicates if there is a need to carry over a value to the next higher bit position, which is important in binary addition. For example, when adding the binary digits 1 and 1, the sum will be 0 (the least significant bit) and the carry will be 1 (the higher bit needs to be carried over).

This function is distinct from subtraction, multiplication, or logical operations, which involve different circuit designs and processes. Subtraction requires a different type of circuit called a half-subtractor, while multiplication would require a more complex arrangement like a multiplier circuit. Logical operations such as AND, OR, and NOT can occur within circuits but do not encompass the primary addition function of a half-adder.