What is Clocking?

Clocking refers to the process of synchronizing operations in a digital system using a timing signal, often called a clock signal. This signal provides a regular pulse that triggers state changes and data transfers, ensuring that different parts of the system operate in a coordinated manner. Clocking is fundamental to digital electronics and is used in microprocessors, memory systems, communication networks, and virtually any digital device. Different clocking schemes exist, such as synchronous and asynchronous clocking, each with its own advantages and disadvantages in terms of performance, power consumption, and complexity.