IP Core

ALSO CALLED: Semiconductor Intellectual Property, Semiconductor IP Core, Integrated Circuit Intellectual Property
DEFINITION: An IP (intellectual property) core is a block of logic or data that is used in making a field programmable gate array ( FPGA ) or application-specific integrated circuit ( ASIC ) for a product. As essential elements of design reuse , IP cores are part of the growing electronic design automation ( EDA ) industry trend towards repeated use of previously designed components. Ideally, an IP core should  … 
Definition continues below.

IP CORE DEFINITION (continued): …  be entirely portable - that is, able to easily be inserted into any vendor technology or design methodology. Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter ( UART s), central processing units ( CPU s), Ethernet controllers, and PCI interfaces are all examples of IP cores.IP cores fall into one of three categories: hard cores , firm cores , or soft cores . Hard cores are physical manifestations of the IP design. These are best for plug-and-play applications, and are less portable and flexible than the other two types of cores. Like the hard cores, firm (sometimes called semi-hard ) cores also carry … 
IP Core definition sponsored by WhatIs.com, powered by WhatIs.com an online computer dictionary