What signal does a quarter adder specifically generate?

A quarter adder is a basic digital circuit that performs addition on two single-bit binary numbers. One of its primary outputs is the sum signal, which represents the result of adding the two input bits together. In addition to the sum signal, a quarter adder can also generate a carry signal, which indicates whether the addition resulted in a value that exceeds the maximum single-bit representation (1 in binary).

In the context of this question, although a quarter adder does indeed produce a sum signal, it is also important to note that it normally produces a carry signal as well. However, if we focus solely on the question at hand, the sum signal is specifically what represents the direct result of the addition operation within a quarter adder. Given that the question emphasizes the nature of the functionality of a quarter adder, recognizing the sum signal as its fundamental output aligns well with the technical definition and purpose of this digital logic component.