Microprocessors
A microprocessor is an integrated circuit that contains the central processing unit (CPU) of a computer, executing instructions from software by performing arithmetic, logic, control, and input/output operations. It serves as the brain of computing devices, from personal computers and smartphones to embedded systems in appliances and vehicles, enabling digital processing and control.
Developers should learn about microprocessors when working on low-level programming, embedded systems, hardware-software integration, or performance optimization, as understanding their architecture (e.g., instruction sets, pipelining, memory hierarchy) is crucial for writing efficient code and debugging hardware-related issues. This knowledge is essential in fields like IoT, robotics, automotive systems, and operating system development, where direct interaction with hardware is required.