Define an asynchronous counter.

An asynchronous counter is defined as a counter where the flip-flops do not trigger simultaneously. In this type of counter, each flip-flop's output serves as the clock input for the subsequent flip-flop. As a result, when the first flip-flop changes state, it triggers the second one but not all at once; there is a delay between the transitions of each flip-flop. This cascading behavior leads to a ripple effect, where each flip-flop must wait for the previous one to change state before it can respond.

This characteristic differentiates asynchronous counters from their synchronous counterparts, where all flip-flops are triggered by the same clock signal simultaneously, ensuring more uniform timing. It's this delay in response that often results in glitches in an asynchronous counter, especially at higher speeds. While asynchronous counters can be simpler in design and require fewer resources, they also tend to have limitations in speed and precision compared to synchronous counters.