Continued increases in microprocessor capacity have since rendered other forms of computers almost completely obsolete (see [[history of computing hardware]]), with one or more microprocessors used in everything from the smallest [[embedded system]]s and [[handheld device]]s to the largest [[mainframe]]s and [[supercomputer]]s.
A microprocessor is distinct from a [[microcontroller]] including a [[system on a chip]].<ref name="Warnes 2003 pp. 443–477">{{cite book | last=Warnes | first=Lionel | title=Electronic and Electrical Engineering | chapter=Microprocessors and microcontrollers | publisher=Macmillan Education UK | publication-place=London | date=2003 | isbn=978-0-333-99040-7 | doi=10.1007/978-0-230-21633-4_23 | pages=443–477 | quote=microprocessor is not a stand-alone computer, since it lacks memory and input/output control. These are the missing parts that the microcontroller supplies, making it more nearly a complete computer on a chip.}}</ref><ref name="Morris 1985 p.">{{cite book | last=Morris | first=Noel M. | title=Microelectronic and Microprocessor-based Systems | publisher=Macmillan Education UK | publication-place=London | date=1985 | isbn=978-0-333-36190-0 | doi=10.1007/978-1-349-06978-1 | page=16 | quote=A microprocessor itself is incapable of performing calculations and requires a support system in order to do so. The CPU support system includes a storage system in which not only the operating instructions but also the data (operands) are stored.}}</ref> A microprocessor is related but distinct from a [[digital signal processor]], a specialized microprocessor chip, with its architecture optimized for the operational needs of [[digital signal processing]].<ref>{{cite book |editor-last1=Yovits |editor-first1=Marshall C. |last1=Dyer |first1=Stephen A. |last2=Harms |first2=Brian K. |chapter=Digital Signal Processing |title=Advances in Computers |date=1993-08-13 |volume=37 |pages=59{{hyphen}}118 |publisher=[[Academic Press]] |doi=10.1016/S0065-2458(08)60403-9 |isbn=978-0120121373 |issn=0065-2458 |lccn=59015761 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vL-bB7GALAwC&pg=PA104 |ol=OL10070096M |oclc=858439915 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>{{rp|pages=104{{hyphen}}107}}<ref name="Liptak">{{cite book |last=Liptak |first=B. G. |title=Process Control and Optimization |series=Instrument Engineers' Handbook |edition=4th |year=2006 |volume=2 |pages=11–12 |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=978-0849310812 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TxKynbyaIAMC&pg=PA11 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>
