Datapath

A datapath is a collection of functional units, such as arithmetic logic units or multipliers, that perform data processing operations, registers, and buses. Along with the control unit it composes the central processing unit (CPU).

Recently, there has been growing research in the area of reconfigurable datapaths—datapaths that may be re-purposed at run-time using programmable fabric—as such designs may allow for more efficient processing as well as substantial power savings.