Q.Compare microprocessor with microcontroller.
[!TLDR]
A microprocessor is just a general-purpose CPU that must be given external memory, I/O and timers, while a microcontroller is a special-purpose 'computer on a chip' with all of these built in.
A microprocessor is a general-purpose Central Processing Unit (CPU); it is not a complete digital computer by itself. A microcontroller, by contrast, is a true computer on a chip that incorporates all the features of a microprocessor plus added features such as ROM, RAM, parallel and serial I/O, counters and clock circuits. The point-by-point comparison is:
| Microprocessor | Microcontroller |
|---|---|
| It contains ALU, program counter, stack pointer, working registers, interrupt circuits and clock timing circuit. | It contains ALU, PC, SP, registers, ROM, RAM, parallel I/O, serial I/O, counters and a clock circuit. |
| A system designer using a general-purpose microprocessor must add RAM, ROM, I/O ports and timer externally to make it functional. | All are embedded together on one chip, so the designer cannot add any external memory, I/O or timer to it. |
| Most microprocessors have many opcodes for moving data from external memory to the CPU. | Microcontrollers have one or two such opcodes. |
| A microprocessor may have one or two types of bit-handling instructions. | Microcontrollers will have many bit-handling instructions. |
| The microprocessor is concerned with rapid movement of code and data from external addresses to the chip. | The microcontroller is concerned with rapid movement of bits within the chip. |
| Microprocessors are intended to be general-purpose digital computers. | Microcontrollers are intended to be special-purpose digital controllers. |
[!ANSWER]
A microprocessor is a general-purpose CPU (ALU, PC, SP, registers, interrupt and clock circuits) that needs external RAM, ROM, I/O and timers, has many data-moving opcodes and few bit-handling instructions, and is meant for rapid movement of code/data from external memory. A microcontroller embeds the CPU together with ROM, RAM, parallel/serial I/O, counters and clock circuits on a single chip, has many bit-handling instructions, cannot take external memory/I/O, and is a special-purpose controller concerned with rapid movement of bits within the chip.
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