In the context of input instructions, what does the term 'Examine' imply?

• A. It checks the state of an input before energizing the rung
• B. It energizes the input device
• C. It sequences outputs
• D. It stores data

Answer: (A)

Examine means testing the current status of an input inside a rung before the rung can energize the output. It’s a conditional gate that does not energize the input itself; instead, it checks whether the input is in the required state (on or off) for the rung to pass. In practice, this is done with instructions that read the input without activating it, such as checking for a closed versus open contact. The output coil will energize only if the examined input is in the state the instruction requires. So the idea is to verify the input’s state before proceeding, not to energize the input, sequence outputs, or store data.