What is Interconnect?

In the context of computing, "interconnect" refers to the pathways and mechanisms that allow different components within a system or different systems to communicate and exchange data. This can range from on-chip interconnects like buses and networks-on-chip (NoCs) to board-level interconnects and even network-level interconnects. Interconnects are crucial for performance, as they determine the speed and efficiency with which data can be moved between processors, memory, peripherals, and other devices. Common uses include CPU-memory communication, chip-to-chip communication, and network communication between servers.