Sequential circuits

In combinational circuits the value of each output depends solely on

the values of signals applied to the inputs. There exists another class of logic
circuits in which the values of the output depend not only on the present
values of the inputs but also on the past behavior of the circuit. Such circuits
include storage elements that can store the values of logic signals.
The contents of the storage elements are said to represent the state of
the circuit. When the circuits input change values, the new input values either
leave the circuit in the same state or cause it to change into a new state. Over
time the circuit changes through a sequence of states as a result of changes
in the inputs. Circuits that behave in this way are referred to as sequential
circuits.

Flip-flops
A flip-flop is a circuit that has two stable states and can be used to
store state information. The circuit can be made to change state by signals
applied to one or more control inputs and will have one or two outputs.
Flip-flops are used as data storage elements. Such data storage can
be used for storage of state (flip-flops maintain their state indefinitely until an
input pulse called a trigger is received) and such a circuit is described as
sequential logic. When used in a finite state machine (FSM), the output and
next state depend not only on its current input, but also on its current state
(and hence, previous inputs). It can also be used for counting of pulses, and
for synchronizing variably-timed input signals to some reference timing signal.
There are several different kinds of flip-flop circuits, with designators
such as T (toggle), S-R (set/reset) J-K and D (delay). A flip-flop typically
includes zero, one, or two input signals as well as a clock signal and an output
signal. Some flip-flops also include a clear input signal to reset the current
output.