Hardware Description Language

A hardware description language, or HDL, is a tool to describe the behavior of electronic circuits.

While intended for simulation, most (all?) HDLs are also usable to synthesize physical circuits. However, beware some languages support constructs that cannot actually be translated to a physical circuit.

The most common HDL is Verilog, followed by VHDL. Many other HDLs are translated to Verilog under the hood.

Simulation

Verilator

Synthesis

Yosys

List of HDLs

This list is incomplete. Feel free to add more entries.

Caption text

Name	Simulation	Synthesis	Allows non-synthesizable constructs
Calyx	?	?	?
Chisel	?	?	?
Clash	?	?	?
MyHDL	?	?	?
RustHDL	Yes	Yes	?
SpinalHDL	Yes	Yes	?

See also

External references

• Awesome Hardware Description Languages - a list of HDLs and associated tools