A GPU or Graphics Processing Unit is a specialized electronic circuit designed to accelerate the creation and rendering of images, animations, and video. It performs rapid mathematical calculations, making it essential for tasks that require high-performance graphics, such as gaming and video editing. Modern GPUs are capable of processing thousands of threads simultaneously, which allows them to handle complex graphics and computations efficiently. They are widely used in various applications, from machine learning to scientific simulations, making them a crucial component in both consumer and professional computing environments.