What is the difference between a microprocessor and a microcontroller?

A microprocessor is a CPU on a chip requiring external memory and peripherals for operation, optimized for general-purpose computing (Intel x86, ARM Cortex-A). A microcontroller integrates CPU, memory (RAM, ROM/Flash), and peripherals (timers, ADC, UART) on a single chip, designed for dedicated control applications (8051, PIC, ARM Cortex-M). Microcontrollers are smaller, cheaper, lower power, and used in embedded systems; microprocessors offer higher performance for complex computing tasks.