What is clock gating and how does it reduce power consumption?

Clock gating stops the clock to inactive circuit blocks, eliminating dynamic power consumption (P = alpha * C * V^2 * f) in those blocks. A gating cell (typically integrated clock gating cell with latch) controls whether clock pulses reach the flip-flops. When the enable signal is low, the clock is blocked. Benefits include significant power reduction (30-50% typical), but design must ensure glitch-free gating to avoid clock glitches. Implementation requires careful timing analysis and proper enable signal generation.