AI engineering glossary · Computing foundations
What is Von Neumann architecture?
Von Neumann architecture (also called Stored-program computer): A computer design in which program instructions and data share the same memory and are fetched over the same connection to the processor. It underlies most modern computers, and its shared path can become a bottleneck.
Von Neumann architecture: an example
A stored-program computer keeps both your code and your data in RAM, and the CPU fetches each from there.
Related terms
More Computing foundations terms
- VRAM
- Wide area network
- x86
- Application programming interface
- ARM architecture
- ASCII
- Asynchronous programming
- Bandwidth
Where you learn it
Von Neumann architecture is part of the AI Engineering Program, which teaches it with notes, a hands-on lab and an exam. The first lesson is free.