Today in this article I will discuss the difference between a microprocessor and a microcontroller.
What is a Microprocessor?
A microprocessor is the main functional component of a computer. It is an electronic circuit on a small chip called an integrated chip (IC) which consists of various electronic components such as transistors, resistors, diodes, etc that works together to perform an operation.
A microprocessor processes all the user or system inputs and gives the required output to an output device. It also controls all peripheral devices connected to a computer system.
Examples of microprocessors are Intel 4004, 8085, Intel i3, i7, AMD Ryzen 5, etc.
What is a Microcontroller?
A microcontroller or microcontroller unit (MCU) is an electronic chip optimized to perform a specific task. It is consist of a processor, memory, and programmable I/O.
A microcontroller is designed and used in automatically controlled electronic devices to perform a specific task repeatedly. It processes user input or input provided by sensors and outputs a certain action based on the given input.
Examples of microcontrollers are Intel 8031/8051, PIC1x, ATmega328, ATmega8, etc.
Microprocessor vs Microcontroller: The key differences
The following table shows the key differences between microprocessors and microcontrollers.
[table id=41 /]Conclusion
We hope this gives you a basic understanding of a microprocessor and microcontroller and the key differences between them.
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