A random access decoder (114) comprising a plurality of decoder circuit elements (116), each decoder circuit element having a unique electronic address and a binary data output (122), means for applying an input signal (124) to each of the decoder circuit element and where each decoder circuit element places data on its binary data output (122) only when the unique electronic address of a particular decoder circuit element (116) matches the applied input signal (124) and wherein the unique electronic address of each of the plurality of decoder circuit elements (116) is electronically loaded into each of the decoder circuit elements (116). In one embodiment, each decoder circuit element (116) comprises equivalent components electrically connected in the same arrangement.