The Z80 is an 8-bit microprocessor designed by Zilog and introduced in 1976. It became popular for its versatility and performance, featuring a clock speed of up to 6 MHz. The Z80 was widely used in early personal computers, gaming consoles, and embedded systems, making it a significant part of computing history. This microprocessor is known for its rich instruction set and support for various addressing modes, which allowed developers to create efficient software. The Z80's architecture influenced many later processors and remains a favorite among hobbyists and retro computing enthusiasts, thanks to its simplicity and ease of use.