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A microprocessor is a single integrated circuit chip that contains the central processing unit (CPU). A microprocessor is a multipurpose, digital device, that reads in digital data consisting of values and instructions; executes them by interpreting the instructions and performing a certain operation; and finally outputs a result. Today, microprocessors can be found in just about every digital device from watches to TVs to phones and laptops. The worldwide annual production of microprocessors stand at over 200 billion units per year.

Since the inception of the first microprocessor in 1971, the Intel 4004, microprocessors have evolved into a large discipline in the computer engineering industry. Many different design patterns have been developed over the years which resulted in many different instruction set architectures. With the constant advancements of fabrication capabilities, microprocessors have been increasingly getting more complex, more powerful, and more compact.