Synchronous operation is provided by having all flip-flops clocked simultaneously so that the output change coincidently with each other when so instructed by the steering logic. This mode of operation eliminates the output counting spikes which are normally associated with asynchronous (ripple clock) counters. The outputs of the four master-slave flip-flops are triggered by a low-to-high-level transition of either count (clock) input. The direction of counting is determined by which count input is pulsed while the other count input is high. This counter is fully programmable; that is, each output may be preset to either level by desired data at the data inputs while the load inputs is low. The output will change to agree with the data inputs independently of the count pulses. This feature allows the counters to be used as modulo-N dividers by simply modifying the count length with the preset inputs. A clear input has been provided which forces all outputs to the low level when a high level is applied. The clear function is independent of the count and load inputs. The clear, count, and load inputs are buffered to lower the drive requirements. This reduces the number of clock drivers, etc., required for long words. This counter was designed to be cascaded without the need for external circuitry. Both borrow and carry outputs are available to cascade both the up-and down-counting functions.