![[Featured Image] An IT specialist examines various computer parts, including the central processing unit.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/1ji1YArTu2piH8Ri5rxXia/e334702d557bb885016622ae6ea9bc60/GettyImages-172287265.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
What Is a Central Processing Unit (CPU)?
The CPU is a collection of circuits that run the operating system and apps and manage other computer operations. Learn more about central processing units and the important role they play in all computing devices.
October 30, 2024
Article

![[Featured Image] A computer programmer is using memory management techniques to optimize random access memory (RAM) on a laptop computer.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/5SRSAoPudkJ4wDkOpoPVGe/11328ee6998b1f9cf21e5325ccbc3246/GettyImages-2000672702.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] Four businesswomen stand around a wipe board looking at attached pieces of paper and discussing the UX design process.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/65tQWXdxDvQKRxEZ4shPVC/8422c7e4dca513754f6f669135310148/GettyImages-1217181083.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)



![[Featured Image] Two computer programmers sit at a laptop and discuss what is open source software.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/6EfQB4AhJ2LC9wITrSFl6S/758751a7a78e64554641e75609406f12/GettyImages-1061722716.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] A woman sits at a desk and participates in a virtual meeting, one of many software as a service examples.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/1vr1NTNkUIzaE4bd7I9Cad/ac7f5cdd4f46146e1fcb6792f4d08c92/GettyImages-1253792531.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] Young business people in an office setting look at a laptop as one person points to the screen, and they discuss link analysis.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/1dEyOu6Ao8wR3ppalNQj7S/1d8f86452a597036f3feb21f5b671702/GettyImages-1135091634.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] Three web developers look at a computer monitor with django coding on it.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/4K994Npk4SCkXoQb8zKx0C/db4342786f722b8903a580c466d1d49f/GettyImages-1058313142.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] A professional sits at a desk in an office setting, answering system design interview questions.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/7eT0yHac0CPzYQhx76P7Dm/7f01b2538458344e37478a8d3c33d852/GettyImages-1410992857.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] Two mainframe developers troubleshoot solutions to improve system performance.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/7DPieznuJmWfPZavAtqey1/04fdff8330cd5ab0a66e7b141ef06d86/GettyImages-2029000903.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] Two computer engineers stand in a server room and discuss strategies.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/56n0voVkjBDWqNIyXKT52K/3334a4f040d8fcfe10de128b4830de8e/GettyImages-1332104905.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] Two web developers are looking at a computer monitor designing a cascading style sheet.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/4B7DlolqVSuxeT2RWWylcJ/7f97147b62e5a662dfbba3a046513e85/GettyImages-1371160707.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] A person at a computer has their hands up in celebration on a recent rise in the crypto prices.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/726fBOrPTSunDm7eTxhsCH/7e79fbe71c79ff8d645c1cc4d79811a4/GettyImages-1496369710.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
