CPU Architecture
CPU architecture refers to the design and organization of a central processing unit (CPU), including its instruction set, registers, memory addressing modes, and microarchitecture. It defines how the CPU executes instructions, manages data, and interacts with other hardware components. Common architectures include x86, ARM, and RISC-V, each with distinct characteristics for performance, power efficiency, and application domains.
Developers should learn CPU architecture to optimize software performance, debug low-level issues, and design efficient algorithms, especially in system programming, embedded systems, and high-performance computing. Understanding architecture helps in writing code that leverages specific CPU features like SIMD instructions or cache hierarchies, and is essential for working with assembly language, compilers, or hardware-accelerated applications.