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A central processing unit ( CPU ), also called a central processor, main processor, or just processor, is the most important processor in a given computer. [ 1][ 2] Its electronic circuitry executes instructions of a computer program, such as arithmetic, logic, controlling, and input/output (I/O) operations. [ 3][ 4][ 5] This role contrasts ...
Instruction cycle. The instruction cycle (also known as the fetch–decode–execute cycle, or simply the fetch-execute cycle) is the cycle that the central processing unit (CPU) follows from boot-up until the computer has shut down in order to process instructions. It is composed of three main stages: the fetch stage, the decode stage, and the ...
Processor (computing) In computing and computer science, a processor or processing unit is an electrical component ( digital circuit) that performs operations on an 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 or a few tightly ...
A CPU cache is a hardware cache used by the central processing unit (CPU) of a computer to reduce the average cost (time or energy) to access data from the main memory. [1] A cache is a smaller, faster memory, located closer to a processor core , which stores copies of the data from frequently used main memory locations .
Computer hardware. PDP-11 CPU board. Computer hardware includes the physical parts of a computer, such as the central processing unit (CPU), random access memory (RAM), motherboard, computer data storage, graphics card, sound card, and computer case. It includes external devices such as a monitor, mouse, keyboard, and speakers. [ 1][ 2]
Multithreading (computer architecture) A process with two threads of execution, running on a single processor. In computer architecture, multithreading is the ability of a central processing unit (CPU) (or a single core in a multi-core processor) to provide multiple threads of execution .
Control unit. The control unit ( CU) is a component of a computer's central processing unit (CPU) that directs the operation of the processor. A CU typically uses a binary decoder to convert coded instructions into timing and control signals that direct the operation of the other units (memory, arithmetic logic unit and input and output devices ...
In computer programming, machine code is computer code consisting of machine language instructions, which are used to control a computer's central processing unit (CPU). For conventional binary computers machine code is "the binary representation of a computer program which is actually read and interpreted by the computer. A program in machine ...