Basics and Overview of Flip Flops

A flip flop is an electronic circuit with two stable states that can be used to store binary data.
The stored data can be changed by applying varying inputs. Flip-flops and latches are
fundamental building blocks of digital electronics systems used in computers, communications,
and many other types of systems. Flip-flops and latches are used as data storage elements. It is
the basic storage element in sequential logic. But first, let’s clarify the difference between a
latch and a flip-flop.

Flip flop v/s Latch

Fig: SR Latch
A flip flop, on the other hand, is synchronous and is also known as gated or clocked SR latch.

Fig: SR Flip-Flop logic diagram

SR Flip Flop

There are majorly 4 types of flip flops, with the most common one being SR flip flop. This simple
flip flop circuit has a set input (S) and a reset input (R). In this circuit when you Set “S” as active
the output “Q” would be high and “Q‘‘” will be low. Once the outputs are established, the
wiring of the circuit is maintained until “S” or “R” go high, or power is turned off. As shown
above, it is the simplest and easiest to understand. The two outputs, as shown above, are the
inverse of each other. The truth table of SR Flip Flop is highlighted below.

S R Q Q’

0 0 0 1

0 1 0 1

1 0 1 0

1 1 ∞ ∞
JK Flip-flop

Due to the undefined state in the SR flip flop, another flip flop is required in electronics. The JK
flip flop is an improvement on the SR flip flop where S=R=1 is not a problem.

Fig: JK Flip-Flop logic diagram

The input condition of J=K=1, gives an output inverting the output state. However, the outputs
are the same when one tests the circuit practically. In simple words, If J and K data input are
different (i.e. high and low) then the output Q takes the value of J at the next clock edge. If J
and K are both low then no change occurs. If J and K are both are high at the clock edge then
the output will toggle from one state to the other. JK Flip Flop can function as Set or Reset Flip
flop

J K Q Q’
 0 0 0 0

0 1 0 0

1 0 0 1

1 1 0 1

0 0 1 1

0 1 1 0

1 0 1 1

1 1 1 0

D Flip Flop

D flip flop is a better alternative that is very popular with digital electronics. They are commonly
used for counters and shift-registers and input synchronisation.
 Fig: D Flip-Flop logic diagram

In a D flip flop, the output can be only changed at the clock edge, and if the input changes at
other times, the output will be unaffected.

Clock D Q Q’

↓»0 0 0 1

↑»1 0 0 1

↓»0 1 0 1

↑»1 1 1 0

The change of state of the output is dependent on the rising edge of the clock. The output (Q) is
same as the input and can only change at the rising edge of the clock.

T Flip Flop

A T flip flop is like JK flip-flop. These are basically a single input version of JK flip flop. This
modified form of JK flip-flop is obtained by connecting both inputs J and K together. This flip-
flop has only one input along with the clock input.
 Fig: T Flip Flop logic diagram
These flip-flops are called T flip-flops because of their ability to complement its state (i.e.)
Toggle, hence the name Toggle flip-flop.

T Q Q (t+1)

0 0 0

1 0 1

0 1 1

1 1 0
Applications of Flip-Flops

These are the various types of flip-flops being used in digital electronic circuits and the
applications of Flip-flops are as specified below.

 Counters
 Frequency Dividers
 Shift Registers
 Storage Registers