A parallel-data VLSI architecture for computation of the fast Fourier transform (FFT) is described. The processor is based on a computationally efficient vector rotate algorithm. Use of a 2-dimensional pipeline configuration allows a radix-2 butterfly operation to be performed once every system clock cycle (250 ns) to generate real or imaginary transform components. The architecture is considered to be a computationally efficient VLSI approach for high-bandwidth computation of the FFT. The design and performance of an 8-bit FFT butterfly processor are described.