Voltage Comparator Ic. If the v2 v1 then the output voltage is a positive terminal. An op amp can function as a comparator because it combines a differential input stage with very high gain.
The symbol of the comparator is shown below. A voltage reference ic or a resistive divider can be used to generate a threshold voltage for comparator circuits. The comparator is a circuit and it is used to compare the two output voltages of v1 v2.
This means that it accepts 2 inputs for comparison.
Commercial comparators such as the lm311 single comparator the lm339 quad comparator or the lm393 dual differential comparator are voltage comparators which come in a standard ic package operating from a single or dual supply. Typical values unless otherwise specified. If the voltage v1 v2 then the output voltage is zero. Meaning it includes 4 separate voltage comparators whose inputs and outputs are appropriately terminated via the respective external pins of the ic package as shown below.