Symmetric multiprocessors (SMP) are computer systems that use multiple processors to perform tasks simultaneously. In an SMP architecture, each processor has equal access to shared memory and I/O resources, allowing them to work together efficiently on complex computations. This design enhances performance and reliability, as tasks can be distributed among processors. SMP systems are commonly used in servers and high-performance computing environments. They support multi-threaded applications, where multiple threads can run concurrently on different processors. This capability improves processing speed and resource utilization, making SMP a popular choice for applications requiring significant computational power, such as databases and scientific simulations.