XOR

XOR, or "exclusive or," is a logical operation that compares two inputs. It outputs true (or 1) only when exactly one of the inputs is true; if both are true or both are false, the result is false (or 0). Think of it like a switch: it turns on when one, but not both, switches are flipped on. XOR is fundamental in digital electronics and computing, especially in error detection and cryptography, because it effectively combines and compares binary data, making it a vital tool for data processing and security.