Combinational circuits vs Sequential circuits vs Latches vs Flip-flops

Combinational circuits:
- Combinational circuits are digital circuits where the output at any time depends only on the present combination of inputs.
- These circuits do not have memory elements, which means their output is solely determined by the current input.
- Due to this lack of memory, combinational circuits operate faster than sequential circuits, latches, and flip-flops.

Sequential circuits:
- Sequential circuits have memory elements (such as flip-flops) that allow them to store previous input states.
- The output of a sequential circuit not only depends on the current input but also on past inputs and the circuit's state.
- Because of this additional complexity and the need to synchronize data based on clock signals, sequential circuits operate slower than combinational circuits.

Latches and Flip-flops:
- Latches and flip-flops are fundamental memory elements in digital circuits.
- Latches are level-sensitive while flip-flops are edge-triggered, with flip-flops being more commonly used in sequential circuits due to their better performance characteristics.
- While both latches and flip-flops introduce memory into circuits, they still operate slower than combinational circuits due to the additional logic required for memory storage.
In conclusion, among the options provided, combinational circuits operate faster than sequential circuits, latches, and flip-flops due to their lack of memory elements and simpler output determination based solely on current inputs.