A control bus is a communication pathway used in computer architecture to transmit control signals between the central processing unit (CPU) and other components, such as memory and input/output devices. These signals coordinate the operations of the computer, ensuring that data is processed in the correct sequence and that resources are allocated efficiently. Control buses are part of the broader system bus, which also includes data and address buses. While the data bus carries actual data and the address bus specifies where the data should go, the control bus sends commands and timing signals that manage the overall operation of the computer system.