Arithmetic-logic unit (ALU)
Algirdas Avižienis · Encyclopedia of Computer Science · 2003
The arithmetic-logic unit (ALU) is that functional part of the digital computer that carries out arithmetic and logic operations on machine words that represent operands. It is usually a part of the central processing unit (CPU--q.v.). In many CPUs, separate units exist for arithmetic operations (the arithmetic unit, AU) and for logic operations (the logic unit, LU).