What does a circle (negation symbol) on the output of a gate represent in positive logic?

In positive logic, a circle at the output of a gate typically indicates that the output is inverted. This means that when the gate is activated or receives a high input (logic level '1'), the output will produce a low (logic level '0'). Therefore, the presence of the negation symbol signifies that the output reflects the opposite state of the input.

In this scenario, "when activated" refers to the condition under which the gate functions, producing a low output despite a high input. You would see this behavior in gates like NOT gates or in scenarios with NAND gates, where the presence of a circle indicates the output will always result in an inversion of the input signal.