
Often when fetching the first instruction the CPU will also receive information on how many instructions will follow before the program has properly been executed. The CPU will fetch the instruction required to execute the program from the PC memory.

Now the PC sends the information that you just opened a program to the CPU. This instruction can be anything but in our example let´s say you opened a program or application on your PC. So the CPU receives an instruction from a program running on your PC. I will explain the whole process a little more in-depth. If that all still sounded a bit confusing then please stay with me here. So the CPU fetches the Instruction, then it Decodes it to be able to read it properly, and finally, it executes the instruction. This happens in three stages: Fetch, Decode, and Execute. What does a CPU do?īut what does a CPU really do and how does it do it? Well, that is not as simple to explain but I will do my best to try to explain it in as simple terms as possible.Īs a whole, a CPU processes instructions from an application or program and outputs the solution. You might be wondering what instructions actually are and the answer is quite easy: It can pretty much be anything.Īn Instruction can be as simple as a math equation but it can be as complex as reading out a sensor or something similar.Ī CPU basically processes instructions from programs from your PC.īut all of that is at its base just a math equation that the CPU can solve one after another.Ī CPU only works in conjunction with other PC components. That´s also why multi-core CPUs are faster.


A CPU works in sequence, which means that every set of instructions can only be executed and solved one after another.

I want to explain the functionality of a CPU in as simple terms as possible so that anyone can understand what exactly it is that a CPU does in your PC.Īs a whole, CPU stands for “Central Processor Unit” and is an electronic component that executes instructions supplied by the PC. This is why I decided to write this article. A CPU is the brain of every computer but when it comes to explaining what this brain actually does within the PC then it seems that no one is really able to properly explain it in easy terms.
