ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Express Data Path

Express data path is like a highway that allows information to travel quickly and efficiently between different parts of a computer or electronic device. Just like cars driving on a road, data travels through a data path in a computer.

Imagine you have a toy car and you want to move it from one end of the room to the other. To do this, you need a clear path without any obstacles. If the room is messy with toys all over, it will be difficult for the car to move.

Similarly, in a computer, data needs a clear path to move from one part to another. This path is called the data path. The data path is made up of different components that help the data move along.

Let's break it down:

1. Input: Just like you need to put the toy car on the path to start moving it, the data path needs an input. Data can come from different sources like a keyboard, a mouse, or a disk drive. This is where the data enters the data path.

2. Processing: Once the data enters the data path, it goes through different components that help process it. These components are like helpers who do specific tasks. They can perform calculations, comparisons, or other operations on the data. Think of them as workers in a factory who do different jobs to transform raw materials into finished products.

3. Storage: Sometimes, the data needs to be stored or remembered for later use. In a computer, this is done in the memory. Memory is like a big shelf with lots of compartments where you can put things to use later. It's similar to putting your toy car on a table so that you can come back later and play with it again.

4. Output: Finally, after the data has been processed and stored, it needs to be shown or used in some way. This is called the output. It could be something like displaying a picture on a screen or printing a document. Just like you need to take your toy car off the path and show it to someone when you want to share it.

All these steps together form the express data path in a computer. It's a fast and efficient way for data to travel, get processed, stored, and shown or used. Just like a smooth highway helps cars move quickly from one place to another, the express data path ensures that information can move smoothly and quickly inside a computer.