what is cpu on a computer

A CPU, or Central Processing Unit, is a small but powerful computer chip that acts as the "brain" of a computing device. It is responsible for executing instructions from programs and processing data input to produce usable information output. The CPU is a complex set of electronic circuitry that runs the machines operating system and apps. It performs arithmetic, logic, and other operations to transform data input into more usable information output. CPUs are made by arranging billions of microscopic transistors onto a single computer chip. These transistors use a series of electrical signals to represent machine binary code, made up of 1s and 0s. CPUs can do increasingly complex tasks at greater speeds than before due to the increasing number of transistors. The CPU sits in a socket on the motherboard of a computer, and other parts of the computer can connect to the CPU through something called "buses". CPUs generate a lot of heat, so they are usually attached to a heat sink with a fan located right on top of it.