Where this inverter fits
The 20-SOIC footprint matches standard wide-body SOIC land patterns — no board respin needed if migrating from an older 74AC or 74ACT hex inverter in the same package. Six gates in one package saves board area compared to three dual-inverter parts, though the 0.295" body width means it won't fit a narrow SOIC-20 footprint.
The 74AC family remains a standard-logic workhorse; TI and other second sources still produce pin-compatible hex inverters in the same package, so dual-sourcing is straightforward if your procurement team wants a second qualified line.