ARM Cortex-A
 | This article needs additional citations for verification.(June 2025) |
| General information | |
|---|---|
| Designed by | ARM Holdings |
| Architecture and classification | |
| Instruction set | ARM, Thumb-2 (32-bit cores); ARMv7-A and ARMv8-A A64, A32, T32 (64-bit cores); ARMv8-A, ARMv8.1-A, ARMv8.2-A, ARMv9-A, ARMv9.2-A |
The ARM Cortex-A is a family of ARM architecture processor cores developed by Arm Holdings. Designed for application-level computing, Cortex-A cores are widely used in devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, and embedded systems.
Cortex-A processors include both 32-bit and 64-bit designs. Most 32-bit cores implement the ARMv7-A architecture profile. All 64-bit Cortex-A cores implement the ARMv8-A profile, which supports both 64-bit and, in some cases, 32-bit execution.
The Cortex-A series is distinct from Arm's Cortex-R and Cortex-M families, which are optimized for real-time and low-power applications, respectively. Unlike the other two families, the Cortex-A series supports a memory management unit (MMU) required by many modern operating systems.
In 2025, Arm introduced the C-series naming scheme to succeed the Cortex-A and Cortex-X branding for application processors. The C-series cores continue the architectural lineage of the Cortex-A family, beginning with the C1 generation.
Overview
| 32-bit | |
|---|---|
| Year | Core |
| 2005 | Cortex-A8 |
| 2007 | Cortex-A9 |
| 2009 | Cortex-A5 |
| 2010 | Cortex-A15 |
| 2011 | Cortex-A7 |
| 2013 | Cortex-A12 |
| 2014 | Cortex-A17 |
| 2016 | Cortex-A32 |
| 32/64-bit | |
|---|---|
| Year | Core |
| 2012 | Cortex-A53 |
| Cortex-A57 | |
| 2015 | Cortex-A35 |
| Cortex-A72 | |
| 2016 | Cortex-A73 |
| 2017 | Cortex-A55 |
| Cortex-A75 | |
| 2018 | Cortex-A76 |
| 2019 | Cortex-A77 |
| 2020 | Cortex-A78 |
| 2021 | Cortex-A710 |
| 2022 | Cortex-A510(refresh) |
| 64-bit | |
|---|---|
| Year | Core |
| 2016 | Cortex-A34 |
| 2018 | Cortex-A65 |
| 2021 | Cortex-A510 |
| 2022 | Cortex-A715 |
| 2023 | Cortex-A520 |
| Cortex-A720 | |
| 2024 | Cortex-A725 |
| 2025 | Cortex-A320 |
| Cortex-A530 | |
| Cortex-A730 | |
Licensing and customization
Arm Holdings does not produce or sell physical processors. Instead, it licenses its processor designs to other companies, which integrate them into custom chips. Licensees receive a synthesizable hardware description of the core—typically written in Verilog—along with a software development toolkit and the rights to produce and sell chips containing the ARM architecture.
This licensing model allows chip designers to customize the processor core to meet specific performance, power efficiency, or size requirements. Manufacturers can add proprietary features, optimize for higher clock speeds or lower power consumption, and configure the core to suit a wide range of applications. The exact configuration of an ARM-based chip varies by manufacturer and can be determined by consulting datasheets and reference manuals.
Instruction sets
Cortex-A cores implement several versions of the ARM architecture, reflecting their generation and feature set. Older models such as the Cortex-A5, A7, A8, A9, A12, A15, and A17 are based on the ARMv7-A architecture. Newer 32-bit and 64-bit cores—including the Cortex-A32, A34, A35, A53, A57, A72, and A73—use the ARMv8-A architecture, which introduced support for exclusive load and store instructions used in synchronization.[1] Later cores such as the Cortex-A55, A65, A75, A76, A77, and A78 implement ARMv8.2-A. The most recent designs, including the Cortex-A510, A710, A715, A520, and A720, are based on the ARMv9-A and ARMv9.2-A architectures.
Technical documentation
Documentation for ARM-based processors is typically organized in several layers. At the top level are high-level marketing materials and datasheets provided by the chip manufacturer, which describe the specific system-on-chip (SoC) and its capabilities. More detailed reference manuals outline the chip’s peripherals and system integration features.
At the core level, Arm publishes reference manuals for each Cortex-A processor, covering implementation details and supported features.[2] For a deeper understanding of the underlying instruction sets and architecture, Arm’s architecture reference manuals provide a comprehensive technical specification. Additional documentation, such as evaluation board guides, application notes, and errata, is often provided by manufacturers to support development and deployment.
See also
- ARM architecture family
- Comparison of ARMv7-A cores
- Comparison of ARMv8-A cores
- JTAG, SWD
- List of ARM processors
References
- ^"ARMv8-A Synchronization primitives". p. 6. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
- ^ARMv7-A Architecture Reference Manual; ARM Holdings.
External links
- ARM Cortex-A official documents
ARMCore BitWidth ARMWebsite ARM TechnicalReference Manual ARM ArchitectureReference Manual Cortex-A5 32 Link Link ARMv7-A Cortex-A7 32 Link Link Cortex-A8 32 Link Link Cortex-A9 32 Link Link Cortex-A12 32 merged into A17 Cortex-A15 32 Link Link Cortex-A17 32 Link Link Cortex-A32 32 Link Link ARMv8-A Cortex-A34 64 Link Link Cortex-A35 32/64 Link Link Cortex-A53 32/64 Link Link Cortex-A55 32/64 Link Link ARMv8.2-A Cortex-A57 32/64 Link Link ARMv8-A Cortex-A510 64 (2021)32/64 (2022) Link Link ARMv9-A Cortex-A520 64 Link Link ARMv9.2-A Cortex-A65 64 Link Link ARMv8.2-A Cortex-A72 32/64 Link Link ARMv8-A Cortex-A73 32/64 Link Link Cortex-A75 32/64 Link Link ARMv8.2-A Cortex-A76 32/64 Link Link Cortex-A77 32/64 Link Link Cortex-A78 32/64 Link Link Cortex-A710 32/64 Link Link ARMv9-A Cortex-A715 64 Link Link Cortex-A720 64 Link Link ARMv9.2-A
- Quick Reference Cards
- Instructions: Thumb (1), ARM and Thumb-2 (2), Vector Floating-Point (3) – arm.com
- Opcodes: Thumb (1, 2), ARM (3, 4), GNU Assembler Directives (5).
- Migrating
- Migrating from MIPS to ARM – arm.com
- Migrating from PPC to ARM – arm.com
- Migrating from SH-4 to Cortex-A – arm.com
- Migrating from IA-32 (x86-32) to ARM – arm.com
