Architecture
Crossbar
An interconnect that allows any input to connect to any output simultaneously, enabling parallel transfers.
Detailed Explanation
A crossbar switch provides full connectivity—N inputs can each connect to one of M outputs without blocking (assuming no two inputs target the same output). This enables maximum concurrency compared to shared buses.
Crossbars scale quadratically (N×M switching elements), making them impractical for large systems. Hierarchical crossbars and partial crossbars trade connectivity for area. Arbitration handles conflicts when multiple inputs target one output.