Processor

Abstract

Processor, processor unit or processing unit may refer to:

Computing

Hardware

• Central processing unit (CPU), the hardware within a computer that executes a program
  • if designed conforming to the Von Neumann architecture, it contains a processing unit and a control unit
  • Microprocessor, a central processing unit contained on a single integrated circuit (IC)
    • Application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a microprocessor designed for a particular use case, rather than intended for general-purpose use
    • Application-specific instruction set processor (ASIP), a component used in system-on-a-chip design
    • Graphics processing unit (GPU), a processor designed for doing dedicated graphics rendering computations
    • Physics processing unit (PPU), a dedicated microprocessor designed to handle the calculations of physics
    • Digital signal processor (DSP), a specialized microprocessor designed specifically for digital signal processing
    • Image processor, a specialized DSP used for image processing in digital cameras, mobile phones or other devices
    • Coprocessor
    • Floating-point unit
    • Network processor, a microprocessor specifically targeted at the networking application domain
    • Audio processor, a microprocessor used in studios and radio stations
• Multi-core processor, single component with two or more independent CPUs (called "cores") on the same chip carrier or on the same die
• Front end processor, a helper processor for communication between a host computer and other devices

Software

• Word processor, a computer application used for the production of printable material
• Document processor, a computer application that superficially resembles a word processor—but emphasizes the visual layout of the document's components

Systems

• Information processor, a system which takes information in one form and transforms it into another form by an algorithmic process
• Data processing system, a combination of machines, people, and processes that for a set of inputs produces a defined set of outputs
• Information system, a system composed of people and computers that processes or interprets information

Other

• Firewood processor, a machine designed to cut and split firewood
• Food processor, an appliance used to facilitate repetitive tasks in the preparation of food

See also

• All pages with titles containing processor
• Process (disambiguation)
• Data processing (disambiguation)