Cadence Design Systems develops software, hardware and silicon intellectual property used to design and verify integrated circuits and complete electronic systems. Its customers are semiconductor companies that design and manufacture chips, and systems companies that build electromechanical products containing electronics. Named tools include Virtuoso for custom and analogue chip design, Innovus for digital chips, the Xcelium and Jasper verification platforms, the Palladium emulation and Protium prototyping hardware, Tensilica signal processors, and the Allegro and OrCAD platforms for printed circuit boards.
Cadence primarily licenses its software, generally under time-based licences lasting two to three years, with related maintenance. It also sells or leases emulation hardware, licenses design IP (sometimes collecting royalties as customers ship products), and provides engineering, methodology and education services. Cloud access is offered through the Cadence Cloud portfolio.
Offerings are grouped into three categories: Core EDA, Semiconductor IP, and System Design and Analysis. Cadence sells chiefly through a direct sales force, with resellers for OrCAD and a distributor in Japan, and markets internationally through subsidiaries. During fiscal 2025 it acquired Arm's Artisan foundation IP business, Secure-IC and VLAB Works.
Based on Cadence Design Systems Inc's 10-K filed February 19, 2026.