Processor may refer to:
Computing
Hardware
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Processor (computing)
In computing and computer science, a processor or processing unit is an electrical component (circuit (computer science), digital circuit) that performs operations on an external data source, usually Memory (computing), memory or some other data ...
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Central processing unit
A central processing unit (CPU), also called a central processor, main processor or just processor, is the electronic circuitry that executes instructions comprising a computer program. The CPU performs basic arithmetic, logic, controlling, an ...
(CPU), the hardware within a computer that executes a program
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Microprocessor
A microprocessor is a computer processor where the data processing logic and control is included on a single integrated circuit, or a small number of integrated circuits. The microprocessor contains the arithmetic, logic, and control circu ...
, a central processing unit contained on a single integrated circuit (IC)
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Application-specific instruction set processor
An application-specific instruction set processor (ASIP) is a component used in system on a chip design. The instruction set architecture of an ASIP is tailored to benefit a specific application. This specialization of the core provides a tradeo ...
(ASIP), a component used in system-on-a-chip design
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Graphics processing unit
A graphics processing unit (GPU) is a specialized electronic circuit designed to manipulate and alter memory to accelerate the creation of images in a frame buffer intended for output to a display device. GPUs are used in embedded systems, mobi ...
(GPU), a processor designed for doing dedicated graphics-rendering computations
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Physics processing unit
A physics processing unit (PPU) is a dedicated microprocessor designed to handle the calculations of physics, especially in the physics engine of video games. It is an example of hardware acceleration.
Examples of calculations involving a PPU mig ...
(PPU), a dedicated microprocessor designed to handle the calculations of physics
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Digital signal processor
A digital signal processor (DSP) is a specialized microprocessor chip, with its architecture optimized for the operational needs of digital signal processing. DSPs are fabricated on MOS integrated circuit chips. They are widely used in audio si ...
(DSP), a specialized microprocessor designed specifically for digital signal processing
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Image processor
An image processor, also known as an image processing engine, image processing unit (IPU), or image signal processor (ISP), is a type of media processor or specialized digital signal processor (DSP) used for image processing, in digital cameras or ...
, a specialized DSP used for image processing in digital cameras, mobile phones or other devices
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Coprocessor
A coprocessor is a computer processor used to supplement the functions of the primary processor (the CPU). Operations performed by the coprocessor may be floating-point arithmetic, graphics, signal processing, string processing, cryptography o ...
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Floating-point unit
In computing, floating-point arithmetic (FP) is arithmetic that represents real numbers approximately, using an integer with a fixed precision, called the significand, scaled by an integer exponent of a fixed base. For example, 12.345 can b ...
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Network processor
A network processor is an integrated circuit which has a feature set specifically targeted at the networking application domain.
Network processors are typically software programmable devices and would have generic characteristics similar to gene ...
, a microprocessor specifically targeted at the networking application domain
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Multi-core processor
A multi-core processor is a microprocessor on a single integrated circuit with two or more separate processing units, called cores, each of which reads and executes program instructions. The instructions are ordinary CPU instructions (such a ...
, single component with two or more independent CPUs (called "cores") on the same chip carrier or on the same die
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Front-end processor
A front end processor (FEP), or a communications processor, is a small-sized computer which interfaces to the host computer a number of networks, such as SNA, or a number of peripheral devices, such as terminals, disk units, printers and tap ...
, a helper processor for communication between a host computer and other devices
Software
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Word processor
A word processor (WP) is a device or computer program that provides for input, editing, formatting, and output of text, often with some additional features.
Word processor (electronic device), Early word processors were stand-alone devices ded ...
, a computer application used for the production of potentially printable material
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Document processor
A word processor (WP) is a device or computer program that provides for input, editing, formatting, and output of text, often with some additional features.
Early word processors were stand-alone devices dedicated to the function, but current ...
, a computer application that superficially resembles a word processor—but emphasizes the visual layout of the document's components
Systems
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Data processing system
A data processing system is a combination of machines, people, and processes that for a set of Input/output, inputs produces a defined set of Input/output, outputs. The inputs and outputs are interpreted as data, facts, information etc. depending ...
, a combination of machines, people, and processes that for a set of inputs produces a defined set of outputs
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Information system
An information system (IS) is a formal, sociotechnical, organizational system designed to collect, process, store, and distribute information. From a sociotechnical perspective, information systems are composed by four components: task, people ...
, a system composed of people and computers that processes or interprets information
Other
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Firewood processor
A firewood processor is a machine designed to cut and split firewood with minimal manual handling of the logs. There are typically four main parts of the machine, each dedicated to a separate function. Processing begins with a log pile – a pi ...
, a machine designed to cut and split firewood
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Food processor
A food processor is a kitchen appliance used to facilitate repetitive tasks in the preparation of food. Today, the term almost always refers to an electric-motor-driven appliance, although there are some manual devices also referred to as "food ...
, an appliance used to facilitate repetitive tasks in the preparation of food
See also
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Process (disambiguation)
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Data processing (disambiguation)
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