What is the function of a decade counter digital IC?

A decade counter digital integrated circuit (IC) is specifically designed to count from 0 to 9, which is a sequence of ten states. Consequently, it produces one output pulse for every ten input pulses received. This makes it especially useful in various applications where counting or dividing a signal by ten is necessary.

While other types of counters can operate in different manners, the defining characteristic of a decade counter is that it resets after counting ten pulses, hence the name "decade." This particular feature is what aligns with the choice provided, indicating the unique function of a decade counter in counting pulses and offering an output that corresponds directly to every group of ten pulses.

In contrast, continuous counting implies counting without a specific limit, which does not accurately reflect the decade counter's operation. Similarly, counting in binary format refers to a different type of counter that does not restrict itself to ten values but instead encompasses a range of counts represented in binary. Lastly, while a decade counter does divide incoming frequencies (by ten), it specifically outputs a pulse for every ten input pulses, which is a vital aspect of its functionality and distinguishes it from simple frequency dividers.