An
application specific standard product or
ASSP is an
integrated circuit that implements a specific function that appeals to a wide market. As opposed to
ASICs that combine a collection of functions and are designed by or for one customer, ASSPs are available as off-the-shelf components. ASSPs are used in all industries, from automotive to communications. As a general rule, if you can find a design in a data book, then it is probably not an ASIC, but there are some exceptions.