Simple register

The above mechanism could be called a "parallel load". Every flip-flop gets loaded at the same time.

A shift register (next) supports a "serial load".

This is part of the "counter and register notes" web pages, which contain the following subtopics:

1. Ripple counter
2. Synchronous counter
3. Synchronous counter with reset
4. Very simple register (parallel load)    <-- you are here
5. Very simple shift register (serial load)
6. Designing a circuit which can shift or load
7. More realistic shift register with parallel load