AI engineering glossary · Computing foundations
What is CPU (central processing unit)?
Central processing unit (also called CPU): The main chip of a computer that fetches program instructions from memory, decodes them and executes them one after another at billions of steps per second. It handles general-purpose work such as running the operating system and application logic, and its speed and core count strongly affect how responsive a machine feels.
Central processing unit: an example
A laptop with an 8-core CPU can run your browser, a Python script and a music player at the same time by dividing work across cores.
Related terms
More Computing foundations terms
Where you learn it
Central processing unit is part of the AI Engineering Program, which teaches it with notes, a hands-on lab and an exam. The first lesson is free.