Macro (hard macro)
Beginner
A big, ready-made block, such as a block of memory. You can move it and turn it, but you can’t change what’s inside.
Novice
A large pre-designed block whose layout is already finished, such as a memory, a clock generator or an analog circuit. The floorplan can only choose where it goes and which way it faces. Layout tools see only its outline, its connection points and the areas it blocks.
Expert
Placed before the standard cells and usually locked (FIXED). Orientation is normally limited to mirroring and 180° rotation, because the direction of the transistor gates inside can’t change. Its pins usually sit along one or two edges, and its internal metal blocks some routing layers above it. Described to the tools by a LEF abstract.
Explained in Floorplanning (Design Flow).
See also: Halo (keep-out margin), Channel (macro channel), LEF.