What is the purpose of the branch predictor unit in a CPU?

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What is the purpose of the branch predictor unit in a CPU?

The purpose of the branch predictor unit in a CPU is to predict the outcome of conditional branch instructions in order to minimize the impact of branch instructions on the CPU's performance. By predicting whether a branch will be taken or not taken, the branch predictor unit helps the CPU to speculatively execute instructions ahead of time, improving instruction throughput and reducing pipeline stalls.