The 74HC595N is an 8-bit parallel-out Serial Shift Register features AND-gated serial inputs and an asynchronous clear (CLR) input. The gated serial (A and B) inputs permit complete control over incoming data, a low at either input inhibits entry of the new data and resets the first flip-flop to the low level at the next clock (CLK) pulse.

A high-level input enables the other input, which then determines the state of the first flip-flop. Data at the serial inputs can be changed while CLK is high or low, provided the minimum set-up time requirements are met. Clocking occurs on the low-to-high-level transition of CLK.