The interface acts as a bridge for data exchange and communication between the integrated circuit and external devices or systems. It determines how the integrated circuit receives external signals, how it sends signals to the outside, and how it interacts with other devices or systems. The design of the interface directly impacts the performance, reliability, ease of use, and compatibility of the integrated circuit. Interfaces can be categorized into several types based on their functions and uses, including input/output (I/O) interfaces, power interfaces, clock interfaces, and special interfaces (such as JTAG interfaces).