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What are threads, cores and CPUs?

A thread is a sequence of instructions that can be executed independently by a computer’s processor. A single program can have multiple threads, each of which can perform a different task simultaneously. For example, a web browser might use multiple threads to handle tasks such as loading images, playing videos, and processing user input.

A core is a processing unit within a computer’s CPU (Central Processing Unit) that can execute instructions. A CPU can have one or more cores, and each core can handle one or more threads at the same time. Multiple cores can work together to perform tasks faster than a single core could. For example, a quad-core CPU can execute up to four threads simultaneously, which can greatly improve the performance of multi-threaded applications.

A processor, also known as a central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of a computer. It is responsible for carrying out the instructions of a program, managing memory, and performing other tasks related to the operation of the computer. Processors can have one or more cores, and multiple processors can be used in parallel to perform complex tasks faster.

Updated on May 12, 2023

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