Digital Electronics - Digital Concepts - Discussion

Latches and flip-flops are the basic elements for storing information. One latch or flip-flop can store one bit of information.

The main difference between latches and flip-flops is that for latches, their outputs are constantly affected by their inputs as long as the enable signal is asserted.

In other words, when they are enabled, their content changes immediately when their inputs change. Flip-flops, on the other hand, have their content change only either at the rising or falling edge of the enable signal.

This enables signal is usually the controlling clock signal. After the rising or falling edge of the clock, the flip-flop content remains constant even if the input changes.

Hello saranya.

The flip flops and latches are data storage elements. Flip flop is having only 2 stable states and flip flop is called as multivibrators or trigger circuits. If you consider monostable it is having only one stable state and 1 quasi stable state. If you consider bistable it is having 2 stable states that wise only we called flip flop as bistable multivibrator.

The main difference b/w a FF & a Latch is in the method used for changing their state.

A FF normally samples its inputs and changes its outputs only at times determined by clock signal.

A Latch checks all of its inputs continuously and changes its outputs accordingly at any time independent of clock signal.

Both are used for sequential devices.

The output of a flip-flop can be changed by bringing a small change in the input signal. This small change can be brought with the help of a clock pulse or commonly known as a trigger pulse. When such a trigger pulse is applied to the input, the output changes and thus the flip-flop is said to be triggered.

Flip-flop are used for data storage. For ex registers are used to temporary storage of date of 8-bit, 16-bit. etc.

8-bit register has 8 flip-flops, 16-bit register has 16 flip-flops.

Because flip-flop stores one bit data only, that is 0 or 1.

Flip flop has two states i.e.low and high. When trigger pulse is given to the flip flop the output is high. This is continues after trigger pulse is end. The output of the flip flop is changes after receives the reset signal.

Flip flop has an ability to retain its value for 1 clock pulse.

If the output of a flip flop is 1 or 0 it can't change to other state (1 or 0) by its own. So it have two stable states.

Flip-flops samples the input signals and changes the output signal according to the input. Flip flops requires clock signal and latch whereas latch doesn't require any clock signals.

Hello preeti,

Latch is a memory element which can store a single bit.
It remembers a bit.
It may be level or edge sensitive. There are many types of latches.

Latch give the out put according to input and does not depend on clock pulse.

Flip flop changes the output accordingly at instants determined by clock pulse.