CUDA
CUDA (Compute Unified Device Architecture) is a parallel computing platform and application programming interface (API) model created by NVIDIA that allows software developers to use a CUDA-enabled graphics processing unit (GPU) for general purpose processing. It enables developers to write programs that leverage the massive parallel processing capabilities of NVIDIA GPUs to accelerate computationally intensive tasks, such as scientific simulations, machine learning, and data analytics. CUDA provides a programming model that extends languages like C, C++, and Fortran with GPU-specific functions and libraries.
Developers should learn CUDA when working on high-performance computing applications that require significant parallel processing, such as deep learning training, physics simulations, financial modeling, or image and video processing. It is essential for optimizing performance in fields like artificial intelligence, where GPU acceleration can drastically reduce computation times compared to CPU-only implementations. CUDA is particularly valuable for roles in data science, research, and industries relying on real-time data processing or complex mathematical computations.