The Zilog Z80 is an 8-bit microprocessor designed and manufactured by Zilog. It was launched in July 1976 and was widely used in both desktop computers and embedded systems, including military applications. The Z80 and its derivatives were one of the most commonly used CPUs of all time, and, along with the MOS Technology 6502 family, dominated the eight-bit microcomputer market from the late 1970s to the mid-1980s.