/ˌɛf-piː-dʒiː-eɪ/
n. “A reprogrammable semiconductor device that can implement custom hardware circuits.”
FPGA, short for Field-Programmable Gate Array, is a type of integrated circuit that can be configured by a developer after manufacturing to perform specific logic functions. Unlike fixed-function chips, FPGAs are highly flexible and allow designers to implement custom digital circuits tailored to particular applications.
FPGAs contain an array of configurable logic blocks, interconnects, and I/O blocks that can be programmed to execute parallel or sequential logic. They are widely used in applications where performance, low latency, and customizability are more important than the high-volume efficiency of standard processors.
Key characteristics of FPGA include:
- Reprogrammable Logic: Hardware behavior can be defined or updated post-manufacture.
- Parallelism: Multiple operations can execute simultaneously in hardware, providing high throughput.
- Low Latency: Hardware-level processing can outperform CPUs or GPUs for certain tasks.
- Customizability: Designers can implement unique algorithms, signal processing, or accelerators.
- Integration: Can interface with CPUs, memory, sensors, and external devices for hybrid architectures.
Conceptual example of FPGA usage:
// FPGA workflow pseudocode
Write hardware description (HDL) for desired logic
Compile and synthesize design
Program FPGA with bitstream
FPGA executes custom logic in parallel
Monitor outputs or interact with CPUConceptually, FPGA is like having a blank circuit board that you can “draw” your own processor or accelerator onto. It provides the flexibility of software with the performance of hardware, making it ideal for AI inference, cryptography, high-frequency trading, and custom signal processing.