> Actually, I'm not sure what the SN54HCT573 is useful for...

Probably not commonly used in microcontroller circuits. What it
can do is hold data in a common buss system where multiple
paths or sources of parallel data use that buss. As each chip can be
set to tri-state its outputs, the data in all except the selected one is
not visible to the buss or devices on it. For example, if you sent
parallel data from PortB of a PIC to 573s (which is the straight-
through version of the old 373) you can direct the data to go
to the inputs of a particular device without interfering with the
inputs of others

Another use more in our field would be capturing and holding
data, for example a logic analyser or data sniffer


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