processor or controller?
am confused. whether arm is an processor or controller.? if it is a processor then why is it called so? while we talk about embedded sys we say that emb sys is one which performs single action/job/task. 8051 performs single task. 8051 is controller, we cannot dump more than one source code or make to perform more than 1 task. whereas our CPU(in personal computer) has processor and we can dump/ install new software to that. its a processor and not controller hence it won't come under embedded(only if we consider entire system/PC..if we consider only mouse/KB/monitor then it comes under emb sys because it performs single task). even arm is a PROCESSOR then how come it comes under emb sys?
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As long as you select the right device for your application, it really doesn't matter. Traditionally, the ARM products have been considered microcontrollers.
The general distinction is that a "processor" is just the CPU with maybe some cache memory. This requires that the processor have an external bus interface (EBI) where RAM, ROM, and peripherals are attached.
A microcontroller has everything needed to run in one package: CPU, RAM, ROM (Flash), and some peripherals. Microcontrollers usually do not have an EBI but there are exceptions.
Processors tend to be much more powerful because they are used in higher performance applications that demand as much out of the device as possible. External chips are used to provide exactly the memory and peripherals required.