Opcode: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 03:28, 17 January 2004

Revision as of 02:40, 6 February 2004

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A computer can perform operations, each of which is is assigned a numeric code called an '''opcode'''. Since humans are terrible at memorizing lots of similar numeric codes, [[mnemonic]]s are used as textual abbreviations. It's much easier to remember ADD than 05, for example.

Opcodes operate on [[register]]s, values in [[memory]], values stored on the [[Stack (computing)|stack]], i/o ports, the bus, etc. They are used to perform arithmetic operations and move and change values. Operands are the things that Opcodes operate on.