What is the difference between a latch and a flip-flop?

Latches and flip-flops are both fundamental building blocks of digital circuits used for storing binary data. While they serve similar purposes, there are key differences between them:

Level vs. Edge Triggering:

Latches: Latches are level-sensitive devices, which means they are sensitive to the level of their control input (typically denoted as “Enable” or “Clock”). They can change their output whenever the control input is at a specific level, either high or low.
Flip-Flops: Flip-flops are edge-triggered devices, which means they change their state only at the rising or falling edge of the clock signal, regardless of the duration of the signal’s level. They are commonly categorized as either positive-edge-triggered (triggered on the rising edge of the clock) or negative-edge-triggered (triggered on the falling edge of the clock).
Stability:

Latches: Latches can be susceptible to glitches and race conditions if their inputs change while the control input is at the critical level. This can lead to unreliable behavior.
Flip-Flops: Flip-flops are designed to eliminate glitches and race conditions by triggering only at specific clock edges, ensuring stable and reliable operation.
Number of Inputs:

Latches: Latches typically have fewer inputs compared to flip-flops. They often have a single control input (Enable) along with data inputs.
Flip-Flops: Flip-flops usually have additional inputs, such as preset and clear inputs, along with the clock and data inputs.
Applications:

Latches: Latches are commonly used in applications where the timing of the control signal is less critical, such as data storage in registers or memory elements within a microprocessor.
Flip-Flops: Flip-flops are preferred in synchronous digital systems where precise timing is essential, such as in counters, shift registers, and sequential logic circuits.