FPGA
Field Programmable Gate Array
A semiconductor chip whose internal circuit configuration can be programmed and changed after it's manufactured.
In Simple Terms
An FPGA is a semiconductor chip whose internal circuit configuration can be rewritten with a program even after it's manufactured. A regular chip has its circuitry fixed at the time of manufacture and can't be changed, but an FPGA can be transformed into a different circuit just by sending it a program. This makes it useful anywhere that needs fast computation and the flexibility to change specs, such as testing equipment still under development, communication base stations, and AI image processing.
Behind the Name
The name FPGA is an acronym for Field Programmable Gate Array. "Field" means "out in the field, not at the factory," "Programmable" means "able to be programmed," and "Gate Array" refers to "a collection of logic circuits." Put together, the name captures the idea of a chip whose circuits can be freely rebuilt out in the field, even after it leaves the factory.
Take a Closer Look!
An FPGA is a semiconductor where you can rebuild the internal hardware circuitry even after it's been manufactured in a factory, by writing a circuit design (HDL), converting it into circuit data with dedicated tools, and loading it onto the chip.
A typical CPU or GPU executes instructions on a fixed, predetermined circuit, but an FPGA can rewrite its circuit configuration itself and behave like a purpose-built chip.
Picture a chip packed with many small logic circuit blocks inside, with the wiring that connects them able to be switched around through configuration data.
Without ever re-soldering the wiring on a circuit board, you can turn it into hardware with a completely different function just by rebuilding the design data and loading it in again.
Because it can build dedicated hardware circuits on the spot, it has the ability to directly configure parallel processing circuits tailored to a specific computation.
That's why it's used in fields that need both a purpose-built circuit for the job at hand and flexibility, such as prototype equipment for new communication standards, medical imaging devices, and data processing in data centers.