What are the functions of XTALIN and XTALOUT pins?

[cameo_2007]

I have a chip where in i need to connect a crystal to the following pins mentioned in th data sheet.
XTALIN & XTALOUT.
what do these pins exactly do.is xtalout giving some voltage to the crystal and getting back the oscillations through xtalin.
is that the way.or i am completely wrong.

any right clues?

 

[arnarendra]

xtalin xtalout

Hi,

When you connect a crystal, you will get the oscillations out on the XTALOUT pin of the device. The clock gets generated by the internal oscillator circuitry of the device when you connect the crystal.
Most of the devices also accept the clock directly from the external oscillator in which case you will have to give the clock to the XTALIN pin.

Regards,
Naren