CUDA Academy · 课时

global 函数限定符

将函数标记为 GPU 内核

__global__ 函数限定符 是 CoddyKit 上的免费 CUDA Academy 课时。这是第 1 节课，共 4 节。你可以在下方免费阅读本课时的完整内容 — 然后在浏览器中使用内置代码编辑器和全天候 AI 导师进行实践。这是 CUDA Academy 学习路径的一部分，你的进度在网页和 CoddyKit 应用中同步。 CUDA Academy 课程共包含 4 节课。

本课时的部分内容尚未翻译，以英文显示。

Two Worlds, Two Compilers

Your CUDA file holds both CPU and GPU code. A tiny keyword tells the compiler which side a function belongs to. That keyword is the function qualifier. ⚡

Meet global

The __global__ qualifier marks a function as a GPU kernel: code the CPU launches but the GPU actually runs across many threads.

__global__ void myKernel() {
    // runs on the GPU
}

Called Here, Runs There

A __global__ function is the only kind the host can call but the device executes. It is the bridge between your two worlds.

Always Returns void

A kernel must return void. It cannot hand a value back to the CPU, so results travel out through memory instead.

__global__ void addOne(int* data) {
    data[0] += 1;
}

Launching Is Asynchronous

When you launch a __global__ kernel, the CPU does not wait. The call returns instantly while the GPU works in the background. 🚀

Many Threads, One Function

One __global__ definition runs on thousands of threads at once. You write the body once; the GPU clones the work across cores.

The Launch Syntax

Calling a kernel needs special triple angle brackets that set how many threads run. Normal parentheses alone will not do.

myKernel<<<1, 256>>>();

Parameters by Value

Kernel arguments are copied to the device. Pass device pointers for arrays, since a host pointer would be meaningless on the GPU.

Not the Same as device

Do not confuse them: __global__ is a launchable entry point, while __device__ functions are helpers callable only from GPU code.

No Recursion at the Entry

A __global__ kernel cannot call itself directly the way host functions do. Classic recursion belongs to device helper functions instead.

Why It Matters

Mastering __global__ unlocks everything ahead: every kernel you write, launch, and tune starts with this one little keyword.

Quick Check

Let us check your grasp of the __global__ qualifier.

Recap

You learned that __global__ marks a GPU kernel: called by the host, run by the device, returns void, and launched with triple angle brackets. 🎉

常见问题解答