Quick Answer
What is Microcontroller?
A microcontroller is a small computer on a single chip, used to control embedded devices.
Embedded Systems
Microcontroller
Also known as: MCU
By Glintr Editorial TeamReviewed by Glintr Learn ReviewersUpdated 5 min readArea: Embedded Systems
Definition
A microcontroller integrates a CPU, memory and peripherals on one chip. It is the compute unit behind most embedded products — from thermostats to drones. Common families include ARM Cortex-M and ESP32.
Related Concepts
- FirmwareFirmware is low-level software written directly for a specific piece of hardware.
- Embedded SystemsEmbedded Systems are dedicated computing systems built into a product to perform a specific function.
- SensorA sensor is a component that detects physical phenomena — temperature, motion, light, sound — and converts them into signals.
- Internet of ThingsThe Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of physical devices that sense, connect and exchange data over the internet.