What is the main function of a flip-flop in digital circuits?

The main function of a flip-flop in digital circuits is to store binary data. Flip-flops are bistable multivibrators, meaning they can hold one of two stable states, corresponding to a binary 0 or 1. This characteristic allows them to serve as memory elements in various digital applications, such as registers, memory cells, and data storage.

Flip-flops operate based on clock signals, which dictate when the stored value can change. When triggered by the appropriate clock transition, they can latch onto an input value and hold it until the next trigger, thereby maintaining a binary state over time. This ability to hold a value makes them fundamental components in digital memory and sequential logic circuits.

Other options relate to various functions in digital or analog systems but do not describe the flip-flop's primary purpose. Arithmetic operations are handled by arithmetic logic units (ALUs), clock speed is a characteristic of the timing for operations in a circuit, and converting analog signals falls under the domain of analog-to-digital converters. Therefore, the choice that aligns with the core function of a flip-flop as a data storage element is indeed the second option.