Implementation
Synthesis
The automated transformation of HDL code into a gate-level netlist optimized for specific constraints.
Detailed Explanation
Synthesis reads RTL, infers logic structures (adders, muxes, FSMs), maps to target technology cells, and optimizes for timing, area, and power. The result is a netlist of interconnected standard cells or FPGA primitives.
Synthesis constraints guide optimization—clock frequency, input/output delays, area limits. Synthesis reports show timing paths, cell utilization, and warnings about coding issues. Iterative synthesis explores tradeoff space.