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Compute kernel
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<p>In <a href="/facts/Computing/Kghtm9fX">computing</a>, a compute kernel is a routine compiled for high throughput <a href="/facts/Hardware_acceleration/ej5sM7hB">accelerators</a> (such as <a href="/facts/Graphics_processing_unit/PTK1RQVp">graphics processing units</a> (GPUs), <a href="/facts/Digital_signal_processor/YuBXweos">digital signal processors</a> (DSPs) or <a href="/facts/Field-programmable_gate_array/M8LSGcAU">field-programmable gate arrays</a> (FPGAs)), separate from but used by a main program (typically running on a <a href="/facts/Central_processing_unit/Jxp1bqMV">central processing unit</a>). They are sometimes called compute shaders, sharing <a href="/facts/Execution_unit/uvg54JcX">execution units</a> with <a href="/facts/Vertex_shaders/qfhkKFwA">vertex shaders</a> and <a href="/facts/Pixel_shaders/qfhkKFwA">pixel shaders</a> on GPUs, but are not limited to execution on one class of device, or <a href="/facts/Graphics_API/QkHaISm6">graphics APIs</a>. </p>