Weight processing for a neural network

Systems and methods for processing data for a neural network are described. The system comprises non-transitory memory configured to receive data bits defining a kernel of weights, the data bits being suitable for processing input data; and a data processing unit, configured to: receive bits defining a kernel of weights for the neural network, the kernel of weights comprising one or more non-zero value weights and one or more zero-valued weights; generate a set of mask bits, a position of each bit in the set of mask bits corresponds to a position within the kernel of weights and the value of each bit indicates whether a weight in the corresponding position is a zero-valued weight or a non-zero value weight; and transmit the non-zero value weights and the set of mask bits for storage, the non-zero value weights and the set of mask bits represent the kernel of weights.