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Introduction Today's digital devices are smarter and more capable than ever thanks in large part to the proliferation of microcontroller units (MCUs). In nearly every major industry — consumer electronics, automotive, industrial, and medical — MCUs are under the hood powering devices. However, not all MCUs are created equal. Most commonly, they're distinguished by bit size — the size of data they can operate on, which, in turn, defines the register size and number of memory addresses a device can support. Today, MCUs range in size from 8-bit to 32-bit to meet the needs of many different use cases. But bit size is not the only criteria to consider when choosing an MCU. Today's 8-bit MCUs are more capable and sophisticated than ever before, so even the relatively small 8-bit MCU can play a vital role in modern applications. In fact, it is often the best choice in systems that require a small, low-cost, low-power solution. An 8-bit MCU may also be the best choice for complex applications that require high computational performance and many peripherals; for example, a sensor node that preprocesses an analog signal. This system could use function-specific hardware on 8-bit MCUs to reduce the amount of data sent to a larger processing unit. Microchip Technology has been a leader in the 8-bit MCU industry for decades, with their PIC ® and AVR ® solutions. Along with the rest of the industry, Microchip has evolved, adding capabilities to their 8-bit solutions. The constant innovation and introduction of new product options have enabled more systems to take advantage of the benefits of PIC and AVR MCUs. In this eBook, we dive deeper into the use cases for 8-bit MCUs in modern systems and the ways in which Microchip's products and expertise enable customers to build powerful and cutting- edge 8-bit solutions. Mighty Guides make you stronger. Credible advice from top experts helps you make strong decisions. Strong decisions make you mighty. Reading a Mighty Guide is kind of like having your own team of experts. These authoritative and diverse guides provide a full view of a topic. They help you explore, compare, and contrast a variety of viewpoints so that you can determine what will work best for you. 4 The Mighty 8-Bit Microcontroller: Still Enabling Innovation in Modern Applications