# Intel MCS-51

> single chip microcontroller series by Intel

**Wikidata**: [Q330086](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q330086)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_MCS-51)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/intel-mcs-51

## Summary
The Intel MCS-51 is a series of single-chip microcontrollers developed by Intel. As a small computer on a single integrated circuit, it is a successor to the Intel MCS-48 family and is widely known by the name of its first member, the 8051.

## Key Facts
- **Category:** Microcontroller
- **Developer:** Intel
- **Designer:** John Harrison Wharton
- **Preceded By:** Intel MCS-48
- **Common Aliases:** 8051, 8052, 8031, MCS 51, MCS51
- **Sitelink Count:** 33
- **Archives At:** Computer History Museum

## FAQs
### Q: What is the Intel MCS-51?
A: The Intel MCS-51 is a series of single-chip microcontrollers, which are small computers contained on a single integrated circuit. It was developed by Intel and is also commonly referred to as the 8051.

### Q: Who designed the MCS-51?
A: The Intel MCS-51 was designed by John Harrison Wharton.

### Q: What microcontroller family came before the MCS-51?
A: The Intel MCS-51 series follows the Intel MCS-48 family of 8-bit microcontrollers.

## Why It Matters
The Intel MCS-51 represents a significant and influential family of microcontrollers. As a successor to the earlier MCS-48, it provided a more advanced "small computer on a single integrated circuit," enabling more complex embedded systems. Its architecture, often referred to simply as "8051," became an industry standard, widely adopted and licensed by numerous other manufacturers. This widespread use, indicated by its high sitelink count and numerous aliases, cemented its role as a foundational technology in the development of electronics across various industries. The preservation of its history at the Computer History Museum further underscores its importance in the evolution of computing.

## Notable For
- **Industry Standard Architecture:** The core architecture, commonly known as the 8051, became extremely popular and was licensed to many other manufacturers, making it a de facto industry standard.
- **Successor to a Pioneer:** It directly followed and improved upon the Intel MCS-48, another foundational family of 8-bit microcontrollers.
- **Widespread Recognition:** The series is known by many different names and numbers, including 8051, 8052, 8031, and 80535, reflecting its broad family of variants and widespread market presence.
- **Historical Preservation:** The significance of the MCS-51 is recognized through its archival at the Computer History Museum.

## Body
### Overview and Classification
The Intel MCS-51 is a series of single-chip microcontrollers. It is classified as a subclass of the general "microcontroller" category, which defines a small computer integrated onto a single chip. The series was developed by Intel.

### Development and Lineage
- **Designer:** The MCS-51 was designed by John Harrison Wharton.
- **Predecessor:** This series is the direct successor to the Intel MCS-48 family of 8-bit microcontrollers.

### Naming and Variants
The MCS-51 series is known by several names and includes multiple variants. These aliases and model numbers include:
- 8051
- 8052
- 8031
- 80535
- Intel 8051
- Intel 8052
- Intel 80251
- MCS 51
- MCS51

### Identifiers and Resources
The Intel MCS-51 is cataloged across numerous databases and archives:
- **GND ID:** 4196737-9
- **Freebase ID:** /m/0gcy9
- **Library of Congress Authority ID:** sh85067142
- **Bibliothèque nationale de France ID:** 12333452n
- **Internet Archive ID:** bitsavers_intel8051M1_25397633
- **Stack Exchange Tag:** `https://stackoverflow.com/tags/8051`
- **Commons Category:** MCS-51

## References

1. [Source](http://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/102658339)
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. National Library of Israel