What is a domain specific processor?

A domain-specific processor efficiently executes tasks or applications within a particular domain or application area.

It is optimized for a particular set of computations, workloads, or algorithms typically found in a specialized domain, such as digital signal processing, graphics rendering, networking, artificial intelligence or embedded systems.

Unlike general-purpose processors (GPPs) or central processing units (CPUs) that are designed to handle a wide range of applications, domain-specific processors contain features, instructions, and hardware components optimized for the specific computational requirements and characteristics of that domain, enabling high-performance and/or energy-efficient processing.

Domain-specific processors often incorporate specialized instruction sets, functional units, or co-processors that accelerate that types of operations commonly found in their target domain. For example, a domain-specific processor used for digital signal processing might have dedicated hardware for performing multiply-accumulate (MAC) operations, SIMD (Single Instruction, Multiple Data) instructions for parallel processing, or specialized instruction extensions for efficient handling of audio or video data.