What Is Pipeline?

A pipeline is a way to organize the various duties and instructions that a computer processor must carry out. The theory behind a pipeline is that a processor can handle multiple tasks simultaneously (in parallel) and that placing them in a logical queue can accomplish more in less time. A pipeline can be considered a succession of steps, each of which processes a different part of the data. When one step is completed, its output is fed into the first stage of the next. The pipeline enables the processor to work more quickly and efficiently by dividing an enormous task into smaller, more manageable tasks that can be handled in parallel. Here's a straightforward comparison: picture yourself working in an automobile factory. Before a vehicle is available for purchase, it undergoes several processes, including assembly, painting, and inspection. Building a single car would take a very long time if each step were done by hand. However, suppose a pipeline is established in which each worker is responsible for a particular stage, and each car is passed from one step to the next. In that case, numerous vehicles can be manufactured simultaneously at a higher efficiency rate. The same principle applies to a computer processor, which can be programmed to handle multiple instructions simultaneously by parsing them into smaller, more manageable jobs and placing them in a logical queue. The pipeline is broken down into stages, with each stage's output feeding into the input of the next. Put another way, the CPU can move from one command to the next without waiting for the previous one to complete. Pipeline installation can be a complex process. The programmer must design the pipeline to ensure each stage can complete its job parallelly without causing delays or conflicts. A bottleneck in the network can occur if one step in the process takes significantly longer than the others. A computer processor can perform multiple tasks simultaneously by dividing them into smaller, more manageable tasks and organizing them in a sequence of stages called a pipeline. Put another way, the CPU can move from one command to the next without waiting for the previous one to complete.