What is a System-on-Chip (SoC)?

A System-on-Chip (SoC) is an integrated circuit that consolidates all the components of a computer or other electronic systems into a single chip. It typically includes a microprocessor, memory blocks, input/output ports, and secondary storage interfaces, along with various other components such as digital, analog, mixed-signal, and often radio-frequency functions. SoCs are used in embedded systems, smartphones, and IoT devices due to their compact size, power efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.