Microprocessor
Microprocessor
A Microprocessor (pronounced: /ˈmaɪkrəʊˌprəʊsesər/) is a compact unit of a computer that incorporates the functions of a computer's central processing unit (CPU) on a single integrated circuit (IC), or at most a few integrated circuits. The microprocessor is a multipurpose, clock-driven, register-based, digital integrated circuit that accepts binary data as input, processes it according to instructions stored in its memory, and provides results as output.
Etymology
The term "microprocessor" is a portmanteau of "micro" and "processor". "Micro" is derived from the Greek "mikros", meaning small, and "processor" is derived from the Latin "processus", meaning a going forward, advance, progress.
History
The first microcomputers, equipped with a microprocessor, were developed in the early 1970s. The Intel 4004, released in 1971, is often regarded as the first commercially available microprocessor.
Architecture
Microprocessor architecture can be classified into RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) and CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computing) architectures. The architecture of a microprocessor includes the set of data types, instructions, registers, addressing modes, and the memory architecture that a programmer uses.
Related Terms
- Microcontroller: A compact integrated circuit designed to govern a specific operation in an embedded system.
- Central Processing Unit (CPU): The primary component of a computer that performs most of the processing inside the computer.
- Integrated Circuit (IC): A set of electronic circuits on one small flat piece of semiconductor material, usually silicon.
See Also
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