Difference between a microcontroller and a microprocessor?

AI Thread Summary
A microprocessor serves as the core processing unit responsible for logic operations and machine code interpretation, while a microcontroller includes a microprocessor along with additional on-board peripherals like A/D converters and interface units. The distinction between microprocessors and microcontrollers can be blurred, as some microprocessors may include features typically found in microcontrollers. Common programming languages for microcontrollers are C and assembly language. Understanding these differences is crucial for selecting the right component for specific applications.
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what is the difference between a microcontroller and a microprocessor?
wat are the prescribed languages for programming a m.c
 
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craze4physics said:
what is the difference between a microcontroller and a microprocessor?
wat are the prescribed languages for programming a m.c

The strict difference is that a microprocessor is just the "core" processing unit (logic operations, interpretation of machine code), with some basic inputs and outputs. A microcontroller contains a microprocessor, and additional on-board peripherals (A/D converters, DACs, servo controllers, fancy interface units, etc.)

In practice however, the line blurs a fair bit between self-declared microprocessors and self-declared microcontrollers (does, say, a floating point unit count as a peripheral?) But that's a semantics issue.
 


craze4physics said:
wat are the prescribed languages for programming a m.c

Usually C or assembly language.
 

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