What is the function of a latch in digital electronics?

The function of a latch in digital electronics is to store a binary digit. A latch is a type of bistable multivibrator, meaning it has two stable states and can hold one of those states indefinitely until it is changed by an input signal. This characteristic makes latches an essential component in memory storage and data retention, allowing them to maintain a stored value even when not actively being driven by a clock pulse.

When a latch is in one state, it represents a '0' or '1', and it will hold this value until it receives a subsequent input to change its state. This property is crucial for various applications in digital circuits, particularly in memory devices and state storage elements within more complex circuits such as flip-flops and registers.

The other options describe functions that fall outside the primary role of a latch: arithmetic operations are handled by arithmetic logic units (ALUs), program instruction execution is performed by the CPU, and the conversion of analog signals to digital is typically managed by analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). Therefore, the primary and correct function of a latch is indeed to store a binary digit.