DSPs are specialized microprocessors designed to efficiently process digital signals in real-time. They are optimized for tasks such as audio and video processing, speech recognition, image processing, and telecommunications. DSPs often include features such as multiply-accumulate units, specialized instruction sets, and hardware accelerators to perform complex mathematical operations quickly and accurately. They are commonly used in applications requiring high-performance signal processing capabilities, where traditional microcontrollers or general-purpose processors may not meet the stringent timing and processing requirements.