processor

A computer chipAn electronic device made on a piece of silicon. These days, it could also involve a mechanical chip, but, to the outside world, everything looks electronic. The chip is usually in some kind of package; that package might contain multiple chips. "Integrated circuit," and "IC" mean the same thing, but refer only to electronic chips, not mechanical chips. that does computing work for a computer. It may do general work (like in your home computer) or it may do specialized work (like some of the processors in your smartphone).