What is a CPU?
A central processing unit (CPU) is the central component of a System-on-Chip (SoC) responsible for executing instructions and performing calculations.
It serves as the primary unit for processing and controls the overall operation of the system. A CPU itself typically consists of one or more instruction processors, commonly referred to as cores. Each core within the CPU is capable of executing instructions independently, performing arithmetic and logic operations, and accessing memory. Multiple cores within a CPU allow for parallel processing, enabling the system to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
The terms CPU, core, and processor are however often used interchangeably.