The Z80 is an 8-bit microprocessor designed by Zilog founder and CEO Federico Faggin, first released in July 1976. It is the CPU used in the Amstrad CPC / Plus / PCW computers.
The Z80/Z80A was a very popular microprocessor, used in a wide range of applications, from gaming consoles like the [[ColecoVision]] or the [[Sega Master System]] to handhelds like the [[Sega GameGear]] or some TI calculators to personal computers like the [[ZX81]], [[ZX Spectrum]], the [[MSX]] and the , [[VG 5000]] and [[PCW|Amstrad PCW]].
It was even used in the [[Sega MegaDrive]] as the sound CPU and in the [[Commodore C128]] as a secondary processor in order to achieve [[CP/M]] compatibility. Similarly, the Acorn Z80 Second Processor expansion for the [[BBC Micro]] enables [[CP/M]] compatibility.