The voltage and current at specified points in the circuits of analog chips vary continuously over time.
In contrast, digital chips only assign meaning to voltages or currents at discrete levels.
Inductors tend to be avoided because of their large physical size, and difficulties incorporating them into monolithic semiconductor ICs.
Some of the benefits of this mixed technology include load protection, reduced parts count, and higher reliability.
Their main purpose is to produce a well-regulated output voltage supply for other chips in the system.