A multivibrator is a fundamental switching circuit built with cross-coupled active devices like transistors or logic gates. It operates in one of two states, which can be stable or unstable depending on the resistor-capacitor feedback network. Astable versions continuously oscillate to generate square waves, monostable versions create timed pulses, and bistable versions hold a state indefinitely as memory elements.
Heard on the job
We can build a simple clock generator for the breadboard using a 555 timer wired as an astable multivibrator.