- A core is a processing unit that can execute a set of instructions
- A core can execute one and only one thread at a moment
- The thread’s data/ context is stored in the core’s registers
- Upon a context switch, i.e, the OS assigns a new thread to the core, the current thread’s data is stored to memory outside the core (to the RAM) and the new thread’s data is loaded onto the registers
A core is a personal work desk and a thread is a worker. The OS is like the manager. From time to time the manager asks the worker to switch. He moves and take his stuff (thread data) with him and a new worker comes with his stuff.
- See also CPU cache
Instruction Pointer
- A register in the CPU that holds the address of the next instruction in the RAM