A uniprocessor system is defined as a computer system that has a single

central processing unit A central processing unit (CPU), also called a central processor, main processor or just processor, is the electronic circuitry that executes instructions comprising a computer program. The CPU performs basic arithmetic, logic, controlling, an ...

that is used to execute computer tasks. As more and more modern software is able to make use of

multiprocessing Multiprocessing is the use of two or more central processing units (CPUs) within a single computer system. The term also refers to the ability of a system to support more than one processor or the ability to allocate tasks between them. There ar ...

architectures, such as

SMP SMP may refer to: Organisations * Scale Model Products, 1950s, acquired by Aluminum Model Toys * School Mathematics Project, UK developer of mathematics textbooks * '' Sekolah Menengah Pertama'', "junior high school" in Indonesia * Shanghai Mun ...

and MPP, the term ''uniprocessor'' is therefore used to distinguish the class of computers where all processing tasks share a single

CPU A central processing unit (CPU), also called a central processor, main processor or just processor, is the electronic circuitry that executes instructions comprising a computer program. The CPU performs basic arithmetic, logic, controlling, and ...

. Most

desktop computer A desktop computer (often abbreviated desktop) is a personal computer designed for regular use at a single location on or near a desk due to its size and power requirements. The most common configuration has a case that houses the power supply ...

s are shipped with multiprocessing architectures since the 2010s. As such, this kind of system uses a type of architecture that is based on a single computing unit. All operations (additions, multiplications, etc.) are thus done sequentially on the unit.

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