Hardware Description Language (HDL) is a computer language used to describe electronic circuit structures. It is similar to conventional programming languages like C.
Key Takeaways
- Verilog is a hardware description language used to model digital circuits, while VHDL is a programming language used to design digital systems.
- Verilog is used more in the industry for hardware design, while VHDL is more commonly used in academia and research.
- Verilog is known for its concise syntax and easy-to-read code, while VHDL is known for its powerful abstractions and flexibility.
Verilog vs. VHDL
Verilog is a comparatively newer language used to model electronic systems, and it is based on C language; on the other hand, VHDL is an older language than Verilog and is based on Ada and Pascal languages.
Verilog is a hardware description language. It is used to define electronic circuits and systems like microprocessors and flip-flops. It is based on the C language; hence, it is easier for people who know C.
VHDL is a short form for Very High-Speed Integrated Circuit Hardware Description Language. It describes the hardware and many more, like integrated circuits. It is an older language based on Ada and Pascal languages.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Verilog | VHDL |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Verilog is a hardware description language used for modeling electronic systems. | VHDL is a hardware description language used to describe digital and mixed-signal systems. |
| Introduced | Verilog is a newer language as it was introduced in 1984. | VHDL is an older language as it was introduced in 1980. |
| Language | It is based on the C language. | It is based on Ada and Pascal languages. |
| Difficulty | Verilog is easier to learn. | VHDL is comparatively harder to learn. |
| Alphabets | Verilog is Case sensitive. | VHDL is case insensitive. |
What is Verilog?
Verilog is a hardware description language introduced in 1984. It is similar to the C language. It is used to model electronic circuits and systems. It uses many data types that are predefined.
It is used for verification by the simulation method for different tasks like fault grading, testability analysis, timing analysis, and logic synthesis. All these electronic systems work is done by writing this language in textual format.
It is a weakly typed language. It is a case-sensitive language that will treat “bat” and “BAT” as two different words.
It has developed with time since 1995; now, it is merged with the system Verilog. With constant up-gradation, it gets many features but still lacks library management.
What is VHDL?
VHDL is also a hardware description language known as Very High-Speed Integrated Circuit Hardware Description Language. It is used to model the working of digital systems.
It is based on Ada and Pascal languages and has some extra features that these languages lack. It functions in two modes; the first is Statement execution, in which it evaluates the triggered statements.
It is a case-insensitive language that treats upper and lower case alphabets as the same data. Its projects are portable and multipurpose in many ways.
As it is based on Ada and Pascal languages, it is more challenging to learn because these languages are not popular among programmers.
Main Differences Between Verilog and VHDL
- Verilog is based on a popular C language, so it is easier to learn, but VHDL is difficult to understand because it is based on non-conventional languages.
- Verilog is used to model electronic systems and circuits like microprocessors and flip-flops, whereas VHDL is used to describe digital and mixed signals like integrated circuits.
- https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/545676/
- https://trilobyte.com/pdf/golson_clark_snug16.pdf
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