Microcontrollers are compact integrated circuits designed to control various functions within embedded systems. They consist of a central processing unit (CPU), memory (RAM and ROM/Flash), input/output peripherals (such as GPIO pins, timers, and UARTs), and often include analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) and digital-to-analog converters (DACs). Microcontrollers are widely used in applications where real-time control, low power consumption, and compact size are essential, such as consumer electronics, automotive systems, industrial automation, and IoT devices.