What is Clock Tree Synthesis?

Clock Tree Synthesis (CTS) is a crucial step in the physical design of synchronous digital circuits. It involves distributing the clock signal from a single source to all clock-consuming elements (e.g., flip-flops) in a balanced and efficient manner. The goal is to minimize clock skew (the difference in arrival times of the clock signal at different points), reduce clock latency (the delay from the clock source to the clock pins), and minimize power consumption. CTS commonly uses techniques like clock tree buffering and clock gating to achieve these objectives.