The AT89C51 is a low-power, high-performance CMOS 8-bit microcontroller with 4KB of flash memory, compatible with MCS-51 products. It features 128 bytes of RAM, 32 programmable I/O lines, two 16-bit timer/counters, and several low-power modes for embedded control applications. The device supports in-system reprogramming and includes a comprehensive set of features for efficient operation and control.