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A computer processor is the component that interprets commands and performs the processes a user requests, effectively acting as the computer's "brain". It carries out instructions from software by fetching, decoding, and executing them, often working with the system's RAM and using its own cache for faster data access. The most common type is the Central Processing Unit (CPU), but processors can also be specialized for specific tasks, such as Digital Signal Processors (DSPs) for audio or image processing, or deep learning processors for AI.

Key functions of a processor

Executes instructions: The processor fetches instructions from memory, decodes them to understand what needs to be done, and then executes them to perform tasks like opening an application or processing data.

Performs calculations: A processor is fundamentally a data manipulator that performs calculations and other data manipulations.

Enables multitasking: Modern processors, especially those with multiple cores, can run multiple programs simultaneously by efficiently allocating resources.