The brain of a computer is the central processing unit (CPU) . The CPU is responsible for managing the timing of each operation and carrying out the instructions or commands from an application or the operating system. It contains all the circuitry needed to process input, store data, and output results. The CPU is an integrated circuit, also known as a chip, that integrates millions or billions of tiny electrical parts, arranging them into circuits and fitting them all into a compact box. The CPU processes information using RAM for the incoming data and the final output. Without the CPU and memory, a computer would not function. The CPU is often compared to the human brain because it controls how data flows throughout the entire computer system under the influence of instructions, which are called "programs".