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Reference.org
General-purpose input/output
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<p>A general-purpose input/output (GPIO) is an uncommitted digital signal <a href="/facts/Pin_(electronics)/nW8ICkYs">pin</a> on an <a href="/facts/Integrated_circuit/fjn6vg7C">integrated circuit</a> or electronic circuit (e.g. <a href="/facts/Microcontroller/MKrnAhnm">MCUs</a>/<a href="/facts/Microprocessor/Fx9CaQht">MPUs</a>) board that can be used as an input or output, or both, and is controllable by software. </p><p>GPIOs have no predefined purpose and are unused by default. If used, the purpose and behavior of a GPIO is defined and implemented by the designer of higher assembly-level circuitry: the circuit board designer in the case of integrated circuit GPIOs, or system integrator in the case of board-level GPIOs. </p>