# IEC AND gate (rectangular form) Canonical URL: https://eloragrid.ai/symbols/iec-and-gate Publisher: Elora Grid Updated: 2026-10-28 Lookup label: & Drawing use: Schematic Reference families: IEC, Manufacturer ## Symbol convention Convention: IEC Form: Rectangular outline with the & general qualifying symbol Qualifying-symbol and dependency conventions as explained in TI's public overview of IEEE Std 91-1984, which incorporates IEC 617-12 work. Independent educational drawing; not certified IEC geometry or an IEC database identifier. The counterpart is the matching functional concept; no equivalence of every detailed standard graphic is asserted. Related representation: [AND gate](https://eloragrid.ai/symbols/logic-and-gate) Rectangular IEC-style AND element marked with an ampersand; the output is active only when every input is active. ## In plain English ### What does IEC AND gate (rectangular form) mean? The IEC rectangular AND element is a plain box with the ampersand written near the top centre. Inputs enter on the left and the single output leaves on the right, so the function is identified by the additional drawing mark rather than by the outline shape. All inputs must stand at their internal 1 state for the output to take its internal 1 state. ### A simple example Rectangular gates are common on European interlock, burner-management and protection logic sheets because the same box can carry negation circles, polarity indicators and dependency labels without changing shape. A drafter can stack several & boxes in one column and the function remains readable even when the elements are abutted. ### What the drawings help you do The additional drawing mark says nothing about logic family, supply voltage, travel delay or whether the function is realised in hardware, relay contacts or PLC code. Those details come from the device schedule or the software reference attached to the sheet. ### This particular reference Rectangular IEC-style AND element marked with an ampersand; the output is active only when every input is active. The ≥1 OR element uses the same box; only the additional drawing mark differs, so a misread character changes the whole function. ### Terms - Normally open / normally closed: The contact state in the normal condition defined for the drawing. - Coil: A wound conductor that can produce a magnetic field when energised. - Signal: Electrical information passed between devices, rather than necessarily the main power supply. Concept diagram: Identify the device and form → Read the connections and state → Check the equipment reference A guide to reading this reference. The original symbol illustration and its drawing notes appear below; these boxes are not a wiring diagram. - [Overview of IEEE Standard 91-1984: explanation of logic symbols (SDYZ001A)](https://www.ti.com/lit/ml/sdyz001a/sdyz001a.pdf) - [SN74HC08 — AND gate logic](https://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/sn74hc08.pdf) ## What it represents The IEC rectangular AND element is a plain box with the ampersand written near the top centre. Inputs enter on the left and the single output leaves on the right, so the function is identified by the qualifier rather than by the outline shape. All inputs must stand at their internal 1 state for the output to take its internal 1 state. Rectangular gates are common on European interlock, burner-management and protection logic sheets because the same box can carry negation circles, polarity indicators and dependency labels without changing shape. A drafter can stack several & boxes in one column and the function remains readable even when the elements are abutted. The qualifier says nothing about logic family, supply voltage, propagation delay or whether the function is realised in hardware, relay contacts or PLC code. Those details come from the device schedule or the software reference attached to the sheet. ## How to read it - Read the & qualifier first; the box outline is identical for most IEC combinative elements. - Check for negation circles or polarity triangles on inputs before writing the truth table. ## Information to show or reference - Show the & qualifier clearly inside the outline. - Number each input when more than two are used. - Reference the implementing device, PLC block or relay logic on the sheet. ## Important distinction The ≥1 OR element uses the same box; only the qualifier differs, so a misread character changes the whole function. ## Facts - General qualifier: & (AND function) - Distinctive-shape equivalent: D-shaped ANSI AND gate - Artwork scope: Original educational illustration; consult the applicable standard and the selected device documentation for the exact graphic ## Public references - [Overview of IEEE Standard 91-1984: explanation of logic symbols (SDYZ001A)](https://www.ti.com/lit/ml/sdyz001a/sdyz001a.pdf) — Texas Instruments. Public explanation of the & general qualifying symbol and rectangular symbol composition. - [SN74HC08 — AND gate logic](https://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/sn74hc08.pdf) — Texas Instruments. Manufacturer AND gate documentation showing the function implemented. ## Graphic scope Independent original educational concept illustration by Elora Grid. Not a certified standards graphic or manufacturer footprint. Unitless; not to scale. Original artwork licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. Publisher material is linked only.