Knowra Central processing unit Central processing unit A central processing unit (CPU) executes program instructions, performs arithmetic and logic, and coordinates operations among a computer’s components.
Instruction cycle : The recurring sequence in which a processor fetches, decodes, and executes instructions. It describes the basic rhythm by which a CPU runs a program.
Transistor : A semiconductor device that controls electrical current and can act as a switch or amplifier. Billions of transistors form the switching elements in modern CPUs.
Graphics processing unit : A processor designed to perform many parallel calculations, especially for graphics and data-intensive workloads. Its parallel design contrasts with the CPU’s broad role in sequential control and varied tasks.
Microprocessor : A processor implemented as an integrated circuit, typically on one or more semiconductor dies. Modern CPUs are commonly implemented as microprocessors.
Stored-program computer : A computer architecture in which instructions and data reside in memory accessible to the processor. The stored-program model established the basic organization used by most general-purpose CPUs.
Instruction set architecture : The programmer-visible specification of a processor’s instructions, registers, data types, and behavior. It defines the instructions a CPU can execute and the rules software relies on.
Logic gate : An electronic circuit that implements a Boolean operation on binary inputs. Logic gates combine transistor states into the CPU’s arithmetic and control circuits.
Microcontroller : A compact integrated circuit combining a processor core with memory and peripheral interfaces for embedded control. Unlike a general-purpose CPU, it packages computing and control resources for dedicated devices.
Multicore processor : A processor containing two or more independent processing cores on one chip or package. Multiple CPU cores can execute separate instruction streams concurrently.
ENIAC : An early electronic general-purpose computer, completed in 1945, programmed initially through switches and cables. Its original programming method contrasts with the stored-program CPUs that followed.
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