What is the function of coprocessor?

A coprocessor is a computer processor used to supplement the functions of the primary processor (the CPU).

(i) Operations performed by the coprocessor may be floating point arithmetic, graphics, signal processing, string processing, encryption or I/O Interfacing with peripheral devices.

(ii) By offloading processor intensive tasks from the main processor, coprocessors can accelerate system performance.

(iii) Coprocessors allow a line of computers to be customized, so that customers who do not need the extra performance need not pay for it.

Function:

(i) A coprocessor may not be a general purpose processor in its own right.

(ii) Coprocessors cannot fetch instructions from memory, execute program flow control instructions, do input/output operations, manage memory and so on.

(iii) The coprocessor requires the host (main) processor to fetch the coprocessor instructions and handle all other operations aside from the coprocessor functions.

(iv) In some architectures the coprocessor is a more general-purpose computer, but carries out only a limited range of functions under the close control of a supervisory processor.