The control unit is the main component of a central processing unit (CPU) in computers that can direct the operations during the execution of a program by the processor/computer.

• The main function of the control unit is to fetch and execute instructions from the memory of a computer.
• It receives the input instruction/information from the user and converts it into control signals, which are then given to the CPU for further execution.
• It is included as a part of Von Neumann architecture developed by John Neumann.
• It is responsible for providing the timing signals, and control signals and directs the execution of a program by the CPU.
• It is included as an internal part of the CPU in modern computers. 
•   It controls and directs the main memory, arithmetic & logic unit (ALU), input and output devices, and also responsible for the instructions that are sent to the CPU of a computer. It fetches the instructions from the main memory of a processor and sent to the processor instruction register, which contains register contents.