What this hex buffer does on your board
The Texas Instruments CD74HC365M is a hex non-inverting buffer with 3-state outputs from the 74HC family. It takes six logic inputs and drives six outputs with the same polarity, and the 3-state control lets you float the outputs to share a bus. The scorch mark on a dead board often lands on a buffer like this — it's the glue between a microcontroller and a peripheral bus, and when it fails, the whole bus goes quiet.
Supply voltage and temperature — where it lives
Runs on anything from 2V to 6V, so it works on both 3.3V and 5V rails without a level translator. That wide range is why you see these in legacy industrial and military boards that need to survive a cold start or a hot afternoon.
Output drive — 7.8mA each way
That's enough to drive a few CMOS logic inputs or a low-power LED indicator, but don't expect it to fire a relay coil directly. If your failed board had a buffer driving a heavier load, the 7.8mA limit is a clue — the original part may have been a different logic family with higher drive.
Package and rework
Surface mount, easy to hand-solder or hot-air rework with a standard profile.
Lifecycle — still active, no LTB panic
Listed as Active product status. If you're repairing a board that uses a 74HC365 buffer, this is the drop-in replacement — same function, same footprint, same supply range. No need to hoard or scramble for an alternate.