What is the defining feature of a ring counter?

A ring counter is a type of counter that consists of a series of flip-flops connected in a circular fashion. The defining feature of a ring counter is that it does not count in a strict binary sequence. Instead, it operates by circulating a single '1' (or '0') through the flip-flops, which means it follows a specific pattern where only one flip-flop is set at any given time while the others are reset. This creates a sequence of states that is characteristic of a ring counter, rather than the binary counting sequence used in binary counters.

In contrast to the strict binary sequence of other counter types, a ring counter can generate a limited set of states, often equal to the number of flip-flops employed. This pattern is not aligned with binary counting, making it essential to understand that the operation of the ring counter is distinctly characterized by its non-binary counting behavior.

While a ring counter can be limited to a certain number of states based on the number of flip-flops, the specific limit is not inherently defined as 8 counts, nor is it a requirement that it always uses a master clock. The operation of a ring counter does involve clock cycles, but the defining aspect revolves around its unique counting method rather