What components are involved in the design of a latch?

The design of a latch primarily involves using two cross-coupled NAND or NOR logic gates. This configuration is fundamental to the operation of basic latches, such as SR (Set-Reset) latches. The cross-coupling creates a feedback loop, which allows the latch to maintain its state until it is changed by an external input.

In this setup, if one input is activated, it can change the state of the output, and the feedback ensures that the new state is held even after the initial input signal is removed. This characteristic is essential for memory storage in digital circuits, as it enables the latch to retain information. The use of two gates provides stability and ensures that the device can achieve this bi-stable state effectively.

In contrast, the other options don't accurately represent the fundamental components of a latch. For instance, while four AND gates may be involved in more complex circuits, they do not serve as the backbone for the basic function of a latch. Additionally, resistors and capacitors are typically associated with timing and filtering circuits, not with latches themselves, and a single transistor switch would not provide the necessary feedback mechanism required for the bi-stable operation of a latch. Thus, the choice of using two cross-cou