In digital circuits, what is the main function of flip-flops?

In digital circuits, flip-flops serve a critical role as memory elements, making them fundamental components in digital systems. Their primary function is to store binary data, which means they can hold information in the form of a 0 or 1. Each flip-flop can maintain its output state indefinitely until it is triggered by a clock pulse or a specific input, making it essential in applications like registers, counters, and state machines.

Flip-flops inherently have two stable states, allowing them to bistably store a bit of information. This capability is what distinguishes them from other types of circuits that do not have memory functions. As digital systems increasingly require the ability to retain and manage data, flip-flops are essential for implementing features such as data storage, synchronization, and state retention in various digital applications.