5V-only, through-hole buffer for legacy and test-fixture boards
The CD74FCT244ATE is a 74FCT-series non-inverting buffer with 3-state outputs from Texas Instruments, packaged in a 20-pin DIP (0.300" body) for through-hole mounting. It operates from a 4.75V to 5.25V supply rail, making it a 5V-only logic part — there is no 3.3V compatibility on the supply or the I/O. The two elements each handle four bits, giving an 8-bit bus width total. Output drive is asymmetric: 15mA source, 64mA sink, which is the spec that matters when you are terminating a backplane or driving a long trace on a test fixture.
Active lifecycle, but a legacy form factor
The through-hole DIP package, however, is a legacy footprint — most new designs have moved to surface-mount logic. If your BOM requires a DIP-20 socket and a 5V-only buffer, this part is a direct fit. For a surface-mount replacement, you would need to look at a different package variant within the 74FCT family or a functionally similar part like the SN74ABT2245DW, but that is a transceiver, not a buffer, and its pinout differs.
15mA source, 64mA sink — the drive asymmetry matters
The 15mA source / 64mA sink current rating is the headline parametric for this buffer. The high sink current is what lets it drive terminated lines or high-capacitance loads on a 5V backplane. The source side is weaker, so if your load is primarily pull-up terminated to VCC, you may need to parallel two buffers or check the voltage drop at 15mA against your logic-high threshold. This asymmetry is typical of bipolar and BiCMOS logic families; it is not a flaw, but it is a constraint a designer new to 74FCT should budget for.