What does the number of cores a processor has refer to?

The number of cores a processor has refers specifically to the number of individual processing units within the CPU. Each core can independently perform tasks or threads, which means that a multi-core processor can handle multiple operations simultaneously. This leads to improved performance, particularly in multi-threaded applications that can utilize multiple cores effectively.

For example, a dual-core processor has two cores, allowing it to process two sets of instructions at the same time, while a quad-core has four cores, further enhancing its multitasking capabilities and overall performance. As applications become increasingly capable of utilizing multi-threading, processors with more cores can significantly enhance system responsiveness and efficiency.

Thus, the correct choice highlights the direct correlation between the number of processor cores and the processing capabilities of a CPU, which is essential for understanding how modern computing tasks are handled.