Arithmetic logic unit
= Arithmetic logic unit
= ALU
{c}
{synonym}
An <arithmetic logic unit> is a <combinational logic> component that performs selected arithmetic or bitwise operations on its input <machine words>. Its result and status outputs, such as a <carry flag>, depend on the operation control. A <datapath> may require a pass-through operation as well as addition, particularly when a <barrel shifter> feeds an operand.