Synchronous circuit

A digital circuit whose state changes are coordinated by a shared clock signal. Its sequential elements update at defined clock events, separating state changes into timed steps.

Clock signal: A periodic signal used to coordinate events in a digital system. Its transitions define when synchronous state elements may update.
Combinational logic: Digital logic whose outputs depend only on its current inputs. It computes the values presented to state elements between clock events.
Central processing unit: The part of a computer that executes instructions and coordinates operations. Its datapaths and control logic commonly advance through clocked state updates.
Asynchronous circuit: A digital circuit whose operations are coordinated without a shared global clock. It contrasts with synchronous circuits by advancing through local events or handshakes.
Flip-flop: A bistable digital circuit that stores one bit and updates its output in response to a control event. Flip-flops are common state elements that capture data on clock edges.
Sequential logic: Digital logic whose outputs depend on stored state as well as current inputs. A synchronous circuit is a clock-coordinated form of sequential logic.
Synchronous dynamic random-access memory: Dynamic random-access memory whose operations are synchronized to an external clock. Its command and data transfers are organized around clock cycles.
Clockless computing: A computing approach that avoids periodic clock signals to coordinate circuit activity. It replaces the regular timing reference used by synchronous designs.
Setup time: The minimum time input data must remain stable before a storage element's clock event. Data must satisfy this interval to be captured reliably.
Register: A group of digital storage elements used to hold a multi-bit value. Registers hold the circuit's state from one clock event to the next.

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Digital electronicsCompared with: It contrasts with asynchronous designs, which do not rely on a global clock.