what does unbuffered mean

hello

i need to know what is the difference between unbuffered output and buffered output ? if I have two parts with different logic family  first part have this AHC1GU and second part have this logic family AHC1G this two parts are direct cross or different cross ?

Unbuffered parts are generally used as oscillators.

Unbuffered inverters have a single inverting stage, and the gain of this type of inverter is in therange of hundreds. Buffered inverters have more than one stage, and the gain is in the range of several thousand. In the buffered inverter, power consumption usually is less than in the unbuffered inverter, because the first and the second inverter stages consume significantly less power-supply current than the output stage. Because the first stage remains in linear mode during oscillation, a buffered inverter consumes less power than an unbuffered inverter. Both buffered and unbuffered inverters can be used for oscillator applications, with only slight design changes. Because the gain of buffered inverters is very high, they are sensitive to parameter changes in the oscillator circuit and are less stable than unbuffered inverters.

Hi Chris,

Do unbuffered inverters used as oscillators have any benefits against oscillator devices available in market?

Thanks,

M