Processor (computing)

In computing, a processor or processing unit is a digital circuit which performs operations on some external
data source, usually memory or some other data stream.[1] It typically takes the form of a microprocessor,
which can be implemented on a single metal–oxide–semiconductor integrated circuit chip.

The term is frequently used to refer to the central processing unit in a system.[2] However, it can also refer to
other co-processors.

Examples
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
If designed conforming to the von Neumann architecture, it contains at least a control unit
(CU), arithmetic logic unit (ALU) and processor registers.
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)
Sound chips and sound cards
Vision Processing Unit (VPU)
Tensor Processing Unit (TPU)
Neural Processing Unit (NPU)
Physics Processing Unit (PPU)
Digital Signal Processor (DSP)
Image Signal Processor (ISP)
Synergistic Processing Element or Unit (SPE or SPU) in the cell microprocessor
Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)

See also
Microprocessor
Multi-core processor
Superscalar processor
Hardware acceleration
Von Neumann architecture
All pages with titles containing processing unit

References
1. "Oxford English Dictionary" (https://www.lexico.com/definition/central_processing_unit). Lexico.
Retrieved 25 March 2020.
2. "Oxford English Dictionary" (https://www.lexico.com/definition/processor). Lexico. Retrieved
25 March 2020.

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This page was last edited on 7 November 2020, at 21:46 (UTC).

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