MTLComputeCommandEncoder: what are SIMD groups?

MTLComputeCommandEncoder documentation mentions the concept of "SIMD group", and there is even a "void simdgroup_barrier(mem_flags flags)" function in addition to the threadgroup_barrier one.

Can someone please explain what a SIMD group is? Why that term and not a "thread group"?


MTLComputeCommandEncoder: what are SIMD groups?
 
 
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