Computer architecture - Revision history

Guy Harris: That's... not what control flow refers to. Speak of the flow of control signals and of processor instructions and data (matching the in-image text). (And, no, don't link control signal either, as that's not what it refers to.)

2025-06-26T20:58:22Z

That's... not what control flow refers to. Speak of the flow of control signals and of processor instructions and data (matching the in-image text). (And, no, don't link control signal either, as that's not what it refers to.)

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	{{Short description\|Set of rules describing computer system}}		{{Short description\|Set of rules describing computer system}}
	{{Lead too short\|date=November 2023}}		{{Lead too short\|date=November 2023}}
	[[File:Computer architecture block diagram.png\|alt=\|thumb\|upright=1.35\|Block diagram of a basic computer with uniprocessor CPU. Black lines indicate ~~[[control~~ flow]], whereas red lines indicate ~~data~~ flow. Arrows indicate the direction of flow.]]		[[File:Computer architecture block diagram.png\|alt=\|thumb\|upright=1.35\|Block diagram of a basic computer with uniprocessor CPU. Black lines indicate the flow of control signals, whereas red lines indicate the flow of processor instructions and data. Arrows indicate the direction of flow.]]
	In [[computer science]] and [[computer engineering]], '''computer architecture''' is a description of the structure of a [[computer]] system made from component parts.<ref>{{cite web\|last=Dragoni\|first=Nicole\|title=Introduction to peer to peer computing\|url=http://www2.imm.dtu.dk/courses/02220/2017/L6/P2P.pdf\|website=DTU Compute – Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science\|location=Lyngby, Denmark\|date=n.d.}}</ref> It can sometimes be a high-level description that ignores details of the implementation.<ref>{{cite book\|last1=Clements\|first1=Alan\|title=Principles of Computer Hardware\|page=1\|edition=Fourth\|quote=Architecture describes the internal organization of a computer in an abstract way; that is, it defines the capabilities of the computer and its programming model. You can have two computers that have been constructed in different ways with different technologies but with the same architecture.}}</ref> At a more detailed level, the description may include the [[instruction set architecture]] design, [[microarchitecture]] design, [[logic design]], and [[implementation]].<ref>{{cite book\|last1=Hennessy\|first1=John\|last2=Patterson\|first2=David\|title=Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach\|page=11\|edition=Fifth\|quote=This task has many aspects, including instruction set design, functional organization, logic design, and implementation.}}</ref>		In [[computer science]] and [[computer engineering]], '''computer architecture''' is a description of the structure of a [[computer]] system made from component parts.<ref>{{cite web\|last=Dragoni\|first=Nicole\|title=Introduction to peer to peer computing\|url=http://www2.imm.dtu.dk/courses/02220/2017/L6/P2P.pdf\|website=DTU Compute – Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science\|location=Lyngby, Denmark\|date=n.d.}}</ref> It can sometimes be a high-level description that ignores details of the implementation.<ref>{{cite book\|last1=Clements\|first1=Alan\|title=Principles of Computer Hardware\|page=1\|edition=Fourth\|quote=Architecture describes the internal organization of a computer in an abstract way; that is, it defines the capabilities of the computer and its programming model. You can have two computers that have been constructed in different ways with different technologies but with the same architecture.}}</ref> At a more detailed level, the description may include the [[instruction set architecture]] design, [[microarchitecture]] design, [[logic design]], and [[implementation]].<ref>{{cite book\|last1=Hennessy\|first1=John\|last2=Patterson\|first2=David\|title=Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach\|page=11\|edition=Fifth\|quote=This task has many aspects, including instruction set design, functional organization, logic design, and implementation.}}</ref>

Antxoni: /* Instruction set architecture */ tag removal

2025-05-30T13:09:39Z

Instruction set architecture: tag removal

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	===Instruction set architecture===		===Instruction set architecture===
	{{Main\|Instruction set architecture}}		{{Main\|Instruction set architecture}}

	{{More citations needed\|date=May 2025}}
	An [[instruction set architecture]] (ISA) is the interface between the computer's software and hardware and also can be viewed as the programmer's view of the machine. Computers do not understand [[high-level programming language]]s such as [[Java (programming language)\|Java]], [[C++]], or most programming languages used. A processor only understands instructions encoded in some numerical fashion, usually as [[Binary numeral system\|binary number]]s. Software tools, such as [[compiler]]s, translate those high level languages into instructions that the processor can understand.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Glossary \|url=https://codasip.com/glossary/isa \|website=Codasip \|access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \|title=What is Instruction Set Architecture (ISA)? \|url=https://www.arm.com/glossary/isa \|website=The Architecture for the Digital World \|access-date=30 May 2025 \|language=en}}</ref>		An [[instruction set architecture]] (ISA) is the interface between the computer's software and hardware and also can be viewed as the programmer's view of the machine. Computers do not understand [[high-level programming language]]s such as [[Java (programming language)\|Java]], [[C++]], or most programming languages used. A processor only understands instructions encoded in some numerical fashion, usually as [[Binary numeral system\|binary number]]s. Software tools, such as [[compiler]]s, translate those high level languages into instructions that the processor can understand.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Glossary \|url=https://codasip.com/glossary/isa \|website=Codasip \|access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \|title=What is Instruction Set Architecture (ISA)? \|url=https://www.arm.com/glossary/isa \|website=The Architecture for the Digital World \|access-date=30 May 2025 \|language=en}}</ref>

Antxoni: /* Instruction set architecture */ ref

2025-05-30T13:08:41Z

Instruction set architecture: ref

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	Besides instructions, the ISA defines items in the computer that are available to a program—e.g., [[data type]]s, [[Processor register\|registers]], [[addressing mode]]s, and [[Computer memory\|memory]]. Instructions locate these available items with register indexes (or names) and memory addressing modes.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Organization of Computer Systems: ISA, Machine Language, Number Systems \|url=https://www.cise.ufl.edu/~mssz/CompOrg/CDA-lang.html \|website=www.cise.ufl.edu \|access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \|title=Instruction Set Architecture – Computer Architecture \|url=https://www.cs.umd.edu/~meesh/411/CA-online/chapter/instruction-set-architecture/index.html \|website=www.cs.umd.edu \|access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref>		Besides instructions, the ISA defines items in the computer that are available to a program—e.g., [[data type]]s, [[Processor register\|registers]], [[addressing mode]]s, and [[Computer memory\|memory]]. Instructions locate these available items with register indexes (or names) and memory addressing modes.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Organization of Computer Systems: ISA, Machine Language, Number Systems \|url=https://www.cise.ufl.edu/~mssz/CompOrg/CDA-lang.html \|website=www.cise.ufl.edu \|access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \|title=Instruction Set Architecture – Computer Architecture \|url=https://www.cs.umd.edu/~meesh/411/CA-online/chapter/instruction-set-architecture/index.html \|website=www.cs.umd.edu \|access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref>

	The ISA of a computer is usually described in a small instruction manual, which describes how the instructions are encoded. Also, it may define short (vaguely) mnemonic names for the instructions. The names can be recognized by a software development tool called an [[assembler (computer programming)\|assembler]]. An assembler is a computer program that translates a human-readable form of the ISA into a computer-readable form. [[Disassembler]]s are also widely available, usually in [[debugger]]s and software programs to isolate and correct malfunctions in binary computer programs.		The ISA of a computer is usually described in a small instruction manual, which describes how the instructions are encoded. Also, it may define short (vaguely) mnemonic names for the instructions. The names can be recognized by a software development tool called an [[assembler (computer programming)\|assembler]]. An assembler is a computer program that translates a human-readable form of the ISA into a computer-readable form. [[Disassembler]]s are also widely available, usually in [[debugger]]s and software programs to isolate and correct malfunctions in binary computer programs.<ref>{{cite book \|last1=Hennessy \|first1=John L. \|last2=Patterson \|first2=David A. \|title=Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach \|date=23 November 2017 \|publisher=[[Morgan Kaufmann Publishers]] \|isbn=978-0-12-811906-8 \|url=https://google.com/books/edition/Computer_Architecture/cM8mDwAAQBAJ \|access-date=30 May 2025 \|language=en}}</ref>

	ISAs vary in quality and completeness. A good ISA compromises between [[programmer]] convenience (how easy the code is to understand), size of the code (how much code is required to do a specific action), cost of the [[computer]] to interpret the instructions (more complexity means more hardware needed to decode and execute the instructions), and speed of the computer (with more complex decoding hardware comes longer decode time). [[Memory organisation\|Memory organization]] defines how instructions interact with the memory, and how memory interacts with itself.		ISAs vary in quality and completeness. A good ISA compromises between [[programmer]] convenience (how easy the code is to understand), size of the code (how much code is required to do a specific action), cost of the [[computer]] to interpret the instructions (more complexity means more hardware needed to decode and execute the instructions), and speed of the computer (with more complex decoding hardware comes longer decode time). [[Memory organisation\|Memory organization]] defines how instructions interact with the memory, and how memory interacts with itself.

Antxoni: /* Instruction set architecture */ ref

2025-05-30T13:00:40Z

Instruction set architecture: ref

← Previous revision		Revision as of 13:00, 30 May 2025
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	An [[instruction set architecture]] (ISA) is the interface between the computer's software and hardware and also can be viewed as the programmer's view of the machine. Computers do not understand [[high-level programming language]]s such as [[Java (programming language)\|Java]], [[C++]], or most programming languages used. A processor only understands instructions encoded in some numerical fashion, usually as [[Binary numeral system\|binary number]]s. Software tools, such as [[compiler]]s, translate those high level languages into instructions that the processor can understand.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Glossary \|url=https://codasip.com/glossary/isa \|website=Codasip \|access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \|title=What is Instruction Set Architecture (ISA)? \|url=https://www.arm.com/glossary/isa \|website=The Architecture for the Digital World \|access-date=30 May 2025 \|language=en}}</ref>		An [[instruction set architecture]] (ISA) is the interface between the computer's software and hardware and also can be viewed as the programmer's view of the machine. Computers do not understand [[high-level programming language]]s such as [[Java (programming language)\|Java]], [[C++]], or most programming languages used. A processor only understands instructions encoded in some numerical fashion, usually as [[Binary numeral system\|binary number]]s. Software tools, such as [[compiler]]s, translate those high level languages into instructions that the processor can understand.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Glossary \|url=https://codasip.com/glossary/isa \|website=Codasip \|access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \|title=What is Instruction Set Architecture (ISA)? \|url=https://www.arm.com/glossary/isa \|website=The Architecture for the Digital World \|access-date=30 May 2025 \|language=en}}</ref>

	Besides instructions, the ISA defines items in the computer that are available to a program—e.g., [[data type]]s, [[Processor register\|registers]], [[addressing mode]]s, and [[Computer memory\|memory]]. Instructions locate these available items with register indexes (or names) and memory addressing modes.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Organization of Computer Systems: ISA, Machine Language, Number Systems \|url=https://www.cise.ufl.edu/~mssz/CompOrg/CDA-lang.html \|website=www.cise.ufl.edu \|access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref>		Besides instructions, the ISA defines items in the computer that are available to a program—e.g., [[data type]]s, [[Processor register\|registers]], [[addressing mode]]s, and [[Computer memory\|memory]]. Instructions locate these available items with register indexes (or names) and memory addressing modes.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Organization of Computer Systems: ISA, Machine Language, Number Systems \|url=https://www.cise.ufl.edu/~mssz/CompOrg/CDA-lang.html \|website=www.cise.ufl.edu \|access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \|title=Instruction Set Architecture – Computer Architecture \|url=https://www.cs.umd.edu/~meesh/411/CA-online/chapter/instruction-set-architecture/index.html \|website=www.cs.umd.edu \|access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref>

	The ISA of a computer is usually described in a small instruction manual, which describes how the instructions are encoded. Also, it may define short (vaguely) mnemonic names for the instructions. The names can be recognized by a software development tool called an [[assembler (computer programming)\|assembler]]. An assembler is a computer program that translates a human-readable form of the ISA into a computer-readable form. [[Disassembler]]s are also widely available, usually in [[debugger]]s and software programs to isolate and correct malfunctions in binary computer programs.		The ISA of a computer is usually described in a small instruction manual, which describes how the instructions are encoded. Also, it may define short (vaguely) mnemonic names for the instructions. The names can be recognized by a software development tool called an [[assembler (computer programming)\|assembler]]. An assembler is a computer program that translates a human-readable form of the ISA into a computer-readable form. [[Disassembler]]s are also widely available, usually in [[debugger]]s and software programs to isolate and correct malfunctions in binary computer programs.

Antxoni: /* Instruction set architecture */ ref

2025-05-30T13:00:07Z

Instruction set architecture: ref

← Previous revision		Revision as of 13:00, 30 May 2025
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	An [[instruction set architecture]] (ISA) is the interface between the computer's software and hardware and also can be viewed as the programmer's view of the machine. Computers do not understand [[high-level programming language]]s such as [[Java (programming language)\|Java]], [[C++]], or most programming languages used. A processor only understands instructions encoded in some numerical fashion, usually as [[Binary numeral system\|binary number]]s. Software tools, such as [[compiler]]s, translate those high level languages into instructions that the processor can understand.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Glossary \|url=https://codasip.com/glossary/isa \|website=Codasip \|access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \|title=What is Instruction Set Architecture (ISA)? \|url=https://www.arm.com/glossary/isa \|website=The Architecture for the Digital World \|access-date=30 May 2025 \|language=en}}</ref>		An [[instruction set architecture]] (ISA) is the interface between the computer's software and hardware and also can be viewed as the programmer's view of the machine. Computers do not understand [[high-level programming language]]s such as [[Java (programming language)\|Java]], [[C++]], or most programming languages used. A processor only understands instructions encoded in some numerical fashion, usually as [[Binary numeral system\|binary number]]s. Software tools, such as [[compiler]]s, translate those high level languages into instructions that the processor can understand.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Glossary \|url=https://codasip.com/glossary/isa \|website=Codasip \|access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \|title=What is Instruction Set Architecture (ISA)? \|url=https://www.arm.com/glossary/isa \|website=The Architecture for the Digital World \|access-date=30 May 2025 \|language=en}}</ref>

	Besides instructions, the ISA defines items in the computer that are available to a program—e.g., [[data type]]s, [[Processor register\|registers]], [[addressing mode]]s, and [[Computer memory\|memory]]. Instructions locate these available items with register indexes (or names) and memory addressing modes.		Besides instructions, the ISA defines items in the computer that are available to a program—e.g., [[data type]]s, [[Processor register\|registers]], [[addressing mode]]s, and [[Computer memory\|memory]]. Instructions locate these available items with register indexes (or names) and memory addressing modes.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Organization of Computer Systems: ISA, Machine Language, Number Systems \|url=https://www.cise.ufl.edu/~mssz/CompOrg/CDA-lang.html \|website=www.cise.ufl.edu \|access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref>

	The ISA of a computer is usually described in a small instruction manual, which describes how the instructions are encoded. Also, it may define short (vaguely) mnemonic names for the instructions. The names can be recognized by a software development tool called an [[assembler (computer programming)\|assembler]]. An assembler is a computer program that translates a human-readable form of the ISA into a computer-readable form. [[Disassembler]]s are also widely available, usually in [[debugger]]s and software programs to isolate and correct malfunctions in binary computer programs.		The ISA of a computer is usually described in a small instruction manual, which describes how the instructions are encoded. Also, it may define short (vaguely) mnemonic names for the instructions. The names can be recognized by a software development tool called an [[assembler (computer programming)\|assembler]]. An assembler is a computer program that translates a human-readable form of the ISA into a computer-readable form. [[Disassembler]]s are also widely available, usually in [[debugger]]s and software programs to isolate and correct malfunctions in binary computer programs.

Antxoni: /* Instruction set architecture */ ref

2025-05-30T12:58:42Z

Instruction set architecture: ref

← Previous revision		Revision as of 12:58, 30 May 2025
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	{{Main\|Instruction set architecture}}		{{Main\|Instruction set architecture}}
	{{More citations needed\|date=May 2025}}		{{More citations needed\|date=May 2025}}
	An [[instruction set architecture]] (ISA) is the interface between the computer's software and hardware and also can be viewed as the programmer's view of the machine. Computers do not understand [[high-level programming language]]s such as [[Java (programming language)\|Java]], [[C++]], or most programming languages used. A processor only understands instructions encoded in some numerical fashion, usually as [[Binary numeral system\|binary number]]s. Software tools, such as [[compiler]]s, translate those high level languages into instructions that the processor can understand.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Glossary \|url=https://codasip.com/glossary/isa \|website=Codasip \|access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref>		An [[instruction set architecture]] (ISA) is the interface between the computer's software and hardware and also can be viewed as the programmer's view of the machine. Computers do not understand [[high-level programming language]]s such as [[Java (programming language)\|Java]], [[C++]], or most programming languages used. A processor only understands instructions encoded in some numerical fashion, usually as [[Binary numeral system\|binary number]]s. Software tools, such as [[compiler]]s, translate those high level languages into instructions that the processor can understand.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Glossary \|url=https://codasip.com/glossary/isa \|website=Codasip \|access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \|title=What is Instruction Set Architecture (ISA)? \|url=https://www.arm.com/glossary/isa \|website=The Architecture for the Digital World \|access-date=30 May 2025 \|language=en}}</ref>

	Besides instructions, the ISA defines items in the computer that are available to a program—e.g., [[data type]]s, [[Processor register\|registers]], [[addressing mode]]s, and [[Computer memory\|memory]]. Instructions locate these available items with register indexes (or names) and memory addressing modes.		Besides instructions, the ISA defines items in the computer that are available to a program—e.g., [[data type]]s, [[Processor register\|registers]], [[addressing mode]]s, and [[Computer memory\|memory]]. Instructions locate these available items with register indexes (or names) and memory addressing modes.

Antxoni: /* Instruction set architecture */

2025-05-30T12:57:59Z

Instruction set architecture

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	===Instruction set architecture===		===Instruction set architecture===
	{{Main\|Instruction set architecture}}		{{Main\|Instruction set architecture}}
	{{~~Unreferenced~~ ~~section~~\|date=~~March~~ ~~2018~~}}		{{More citations needed\|date=May 2025}}
	An [[instruction set architecture]] (ISA) is the interface between the computer's software and hardware and also can be viewed as the programmer's view of the machine. Computers do not understand [[high-level programming language]]s such as [[Java (programming language)\|Java]], [[C++]], or most programming languages used. A processor only understands instructions encoded in some numerical fashion, usually as [[Binary numeral system\|binary number]]s. Software tools, such as [[compiler]]s, translate those high level languages into instructions that the processor can understand.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Glossary \|url=https://codasip.com/glossary/isa \|website=Codasip \|access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref>		An [[instruction set architecture]] (ISA) is the interface between the computer's software and hardware and also can be viewed as the programmer's view of the machine. Computers do not understand [[high-level programming language]]s such as [[Java (programming language)\|Java]], [[C++]], or most programming languages used. A processor only understands instructions encoded in some numerical fashion, usually as [[Binary numeral system\|binary number]]s. Software tools, such as [[compiler]]s, translate those high level languages into instructions that the processor can understand.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Glossary \|url=https://codasip.com/glossary/isa \|website=Codasip \|access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref>

Antxoni: /* Instruction set architecture */ ref

2025-05-30T12:55:08Z

Instruction set architecture: ref

← Previous revision		Revision as of 12:55, 30 May 2025
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	{{Main\|Instruction set architecture}}		{{Main\|Instruction set architecture}}
	{{Unreferenced section\|date=March 2018}}		{{Unreferenced section\|date=March 2018}}
	An [[instruction set architecture]] (ISA) is the interface between the computer's software and hardware and also can be viewed as the programmer's view of the machine. Computers do not understand [[high-level programming language]]s such as [[Java (programming language)\|Java]], [[C++]], or most programming languages used. A processor only understands instructions encoded in some numerical fashion, usually as [[Binary numeral system\|binary number]]s. Software tools, such as [[compiler]]s, translate those high level languages into instructions that the processor can understand.		An [[instruction set architecture]] (ISA) is the interface between the computer's software and hardware and also can be viewed as the programmer's view of the machine. Computers do not understand [[high-level programming language]]s such as [[Java (programming language)\|Java]], [[C++]], or most programming languages used. A processor only understands instructions encoded in some numerical fashion, usually as [[Binary numeral system\|binary number]]s. Software tools, such as [[compiler]]s, translate those high level languages into instructions that the processor can understand.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Glossary \|url=https://codasip.com/glossary/isa \|website=Codasip \|access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref>

	Besides instructions, the ISA defines items in the computer that are available to a program—e.g., [[data type]]s, [[Processor register\|registers]], [[addressing mode]]s, and [[Computer memory\|memory]]. Instructions locate these available items with register indexes (or names) and memory addressing modes.		Besides instructions, the ISA defines items in the computer that are available to a program—e.g., [[data type]]s, [[Processor register\|registers]], [[addressing mode]]s, and [[Computer memory\|memory]]. Instructions locate these available items with register indexes (or names) and memory addressing modes.

Bruce1ee: Reverted edit by ABN Design Studio (talk) to last version by 2001:268:9B73:93EC:590F:4430:942D:8731

2025-05-26T17:07:23Z

Reverted edit by ABN Design Studio (talk) to last version by 2001:268:9B73:93EC:590F:4430:942D:8731

← Previous revision		Revision as of 17:07, 26 May 2025
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	The implementation involves [[integrated circuit design]], packaging, [[Electric power\|power]], and [[Computer cooling\|cooling]]. Optimization of the design requires familiarity with topics from [[compiler]]s and [[operating system]]s to [[logic design]] and packaging.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.cis.upenn.edu/~milom/cis501-Fall11/lectures/00_intro.pdf\|title=What is computer architecture?\|last=Martin\|first=Milo\|website=UPENN\|access-date=11 May 2017}}</ref>		The implementation involves [[integrated circuit design]], packaging, [[Electric power\|power]], and [[Computer cooling\|cooling]]. Optimization of the design requires familiarity with topics from [[compiler]]s and [[operating system]]s to [[logic design]] and packaging.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.cis.upenn.edu/~milom/cis501-Fall11/lectures/00_intro.pdf\|title=What is computer architecture?\|last=Martin\|first=Milo\|website=UPENN\|access-date=11 May 2017}}</ref>

			===Instruction set architecture===
	At [https://www.abndesignstudio.com/ ABN Design Studio], we view the Instruction Set Architecture (ISA) as the essential link between a computer’s software and hardware. Think of it as the language that helps software and hardware communicate. While we write code in high-level languages like Java or C++, computers can’t understand these directly. Instead, processors understand instructions in binary—just a series of 0s and 1s.
			{{Main\|Instruction set architecture}}
			{{Unreferenced section\|date=March 2018}}
			An [[instruction set architecture]] (ISA) is the interface between the computer's software and hardware and also can be viewed as the programmer's view of the machine. Computers do not understand [[high-level programming language]]s such as [[Java (programming language)\|Java]], [[C++]], or most programming languages used. A processor only understands instructions encoded in some numerical fashion, usually as [[Binary numeral system\|binary number]]s. Software tools, such as [[compiler]]s, translate those high level languages into instructions that the processor can understand.

			Besides instructions, the ISA defines items in the computer that are available to a program—e.g., [[data type]]s, [[Processor register\|registers]], [[addressing mode]]s, and [[Computer memory\|memory]]. Instructions locate these available items with register indexes (or names) and memory addressing modes.
	That’s where compilers come in. They act like translators, converting your high-level code into low-level machine instructions that the processor can actually run.

			The ISA of a computer is usually described in a small instruction manual, which describes how the instructions are encoded. Also, it may define short (vaguely) mnemonic names for the instructions. The names can be recognized by a software development tool called an [[assembler (computer programming)\|assembler]]. An assembler is a computer program that translates a human-readable form of the ISA into a computer-readable form. [[Disassembler]]s are also widely available, usually in [[debugger]]s and software programs to isolate and correct malfunctions in binary computer programs.
	But the ISA is about more than just instructions. It also defines things like:

			ISAs vary in quality and completeness. A good ISA compromises between [[programmer]] convenience (how easy the code is to understand), size of the code (how much code is required to do a specific action), cost of the [[computer]] to interpret the instructions (more complexity means more hardware needed to decode and execute the instructions), and speed of the computer (with more complex decoding hardware comes longer decode time). [[Memory organisation\|Memory organization]] defines how instructions interact with the memory, and how memory interacts with itself.
	The types of data a program can use, how registers (tiny storage spaces in the CPU) work, Ways to access memory, different addressing methods to locate data.

	At [https://www.abndesignstudio.com/ ABN Design Studio], we prioritize designing ISAs that make programming easier and more efficient while ensuring they work well with the underlying hardware.

	To help developers, ISAs are often explained using short manuals. These include simple names (called mnemonics) for instructions—like "ADD" instead of the binary equivalent. Tools called assemblers turn these mnemonics into actual machine code, and disassemblers do the opposite, helping debug or understand how a program works.

	Creating a good ISA is all about balance. You want it to be easy for programmers to use, but also efficient, fast, and not too complex for the hardware. If it’s too flexible, it might slow down processing. If it’s too strict, it might make programming harder. We constantly work to find that sweet spot.

	To test our ISA designs, we use emulators that simulate how a real processor would behave. This helps us measure things like:
	how much space a program takes (code size), how much the system would cost, how fast it runs

	This testing and tweaking process helps us build ISAs that are powerful, efficient, and ready to meet the demands of today’s technology.

			During design [[Emulator\|emulation]], emulators can run programs written in a proposed instruction set. Modern emulators can measure size, cost, and speed to determine whether a particular ISA is meeting its goals.

	===Computer organization===		===Computer organization===

ABN Design Studio: /* Computer organization */

2025-05-26T16:51:30Z

Computer organization

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	The implementation involves [[integrated circuit design]], packaging, [[Electric power\|power]], and [[Computer cooling\|cooling]]. Optimization of the design requires familiarity with topics from [[compiler]]s and [[operating system]]s to [[logic design]] and packaging.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.cis.upenn.edu/~milom/cis501-Fall11/lectures/00_intro.pdf\|title=What is computer architecture?\|last=Martin\|first=Milo\|website=UPENN\|access-date=11 May 2017}}</ref>		The implementation involves [[integrated circuit design]], packaging, [[Electric power\|power]], and [[Computer cooling\|cooling]]. Optimization of the design requires familiarity with topics from [[compiler]]s and [[operating system]]s to [[logic design]] and packaging.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.cis.upenn.edu/~milom/cis501-Fall11/lectures/00_intro.pdf\|title=What is computer architecture?\|last=Martin\|first=Milo\|website=UPENN\|access-date=11 May 2017}}</ref>

			At [https://www.abndesignstudio.com/ ABN Design Studio], we view the Instruction Set Architecture (ISA) as the essential link between a computer’s software and hardware. Think of it as the language that helps software and hardware communicate. While we write code in high-level languages like Java or C++, computers can’t understand these directly. Instead, processors understand instructions in binary—just a series of 0s and 1s.
	===Instruction set architecture===
	{{Main\|Instruction set architecture}}
	{{Unreferenced section\|date=March 2018}}
	An [[instruction set architecture]] (ISA) is the interface between the computer's software and hardware and also can be viewed as the programmer's view of the machine. Computers do not understand [[high-level programming language]]s such as [[Java (programming language)\|Java]], [[C++]], or most programming languages used. A processor only understands instructions encoded in some numerical fashion, usually as [[Binary numeral system\|binary number]]s. Software tools, such as [[compiler]]s, translate those high level languages into instructions that the processor can understand.

			That’s where compilers come in. They act like translators, converting your high-level code into low-level machine instructions that the processor can actually run.
	Besides instructions, the ISA defines items in the computer that are available to a program—e.g., [[data type]]s, [[Processor register\|registers]], [[addressing mode]]s, and [[Computer memory\|memory]]. Instructions locate these available items with register indexes (or names) and memory addressing modes.

			But the ISA is about more than just instructions. It also defines things like:
	The ISA of a computer is usually described in a small instruction manual, which describes how the instructions are encoded. Also, it may define short (vaguely) mnemonic names for the instructions. The names can be recognized by a software development tool called an [[assembler (computer programming)\|assembler]]. An assembler is a computer program that translates a human-readable form of the ISA into a computer-readable form. [[Disassembler]]s are also widely available, usually in [[debugger]]s and software programs to isolate and correct malfunctions in binary computer programs.

			The types of data a program can use, how registers (tiny storage spaces in the CPU) work, Ways to access memory, different addressing methods to locate data.
	ISAs vary in quality and completeness. A good ISA compromises between [[programmer]] convenience (how easy the code is to understand), size of the code (how much code is required to do a specific action), cost of the [[computer]] to interpret the instructions (more complexity means more hardware needed to decode and execute the instructions), and speed of the computer (with more complex decoding hardware comes longer decode time). [[Memory organisation\|Memory organization]] defines how instructions interact with the memory, and how memory interacts with itself.

			At [https://www.abndesignstudio.com/ ABN Design Studio], we prioritize designing ISAs that make programming easier and more efficient while ensuring they work well with the underlying hardware.

			To help developers, ISAs are often explained using short manuals. These include simple names (called mnemonics) for instructions—like "ADD" instead of the binary equivalent. Tools called assemblers turn these mnemonics into actual machine code, and disassemblers do the opposite, helping debug or understand how a program works.

			Creating a good ISA is all about balance. You want it to be easy for programmers to use, but also efficient, fast, and not too complex for the hardware. If it’s too flexible, it might slow down processing. If it’s too strict, it might make programming harder. We constantly work to find that sweet spot.

			To test our ISA designs, we use emulators that simulate how a real processor would behave. This helps us measure things like:
			how much space a program takes (code size), how much the system would cost, how fast it runs

			This testing and tweaking process helps us build ISAs that are powerful, efficient, and ready to meet the demands of today’s technology.

	During design [[Emulator\|emulation]], emulators can run programs written in a proposed instruction set. Modern emulators can measure size, cost, and speed to determine whether a particular ISA is meeting its goals.

	===Computer organization===		===Computer organization===

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	{{Short description\|Set of rules describing computer system}}		{{Short description\|Set of rules describing computer system}}
	{{Lead too short\|date=November 2023}}		{{Lead too short\|date=November 2023}}
	[[File:Computer architecture block diagram.png\|alt=\|thumb\|upright=1.35\|Block diagram of a basic computer with uniprocessor CPU. Black lines indicate ~~[[control~~ flow]], whereas red lines indicate ~~data~~ flow. Arrows indicate the direction of flow.]]		[[File:Computer architecture block diagram.png\|alt=\|thumb\|upright=1.35\|Block diagram of a basic computer with uniprocessor CPU. Black lines indicate the flow of control signals, whereas red lines indicate the flow of processor instructions and data. Arrows indicate the direction of flow.]]
	In [[computer science]] and [[computer engineering]], '''computer architecture''' is a description of the structure of a [[computer]] system made from component parts.<ref>{{cite web\|last=Dragoni\|first=Nicole\|title=Introduction to peer to peer computing\|url=http://www2.imm.dtu.dk/courses/02220/2017/L6/P2P.pdf\|website=DTU Compute – Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science\|location=Lyngby, Denmark\|date=n.d.}}</ref> It can sometimes be a high-level description that ignores details of the implementation.<ref>{{cite book\|last1=Clements\|first1=Alan\|title=Principles of Computer Hardware\|page=1\|edition=Fourth\|quote=Architecture describes the internal organization of a computer in an abstract way; that is, it defines the capabilities of the computer and its programming model. You can have two computers that have been constructed in different ways with different technologies but with the same architecture.}}</ref> At a more detailed level, the description may include the [[instruction set architecture]] design, [[microarchitecture]] design, [[logic design]], and [[implementation]].<ref>{{cite book\|last1=Hennessy\|first1=John\|last2=Patterson\|first2=David\|title=Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach\|page=11\|edition=Fifth\|quote=This task has many aspects, including instruction set design, functional organization, logic design, and implementation.}}</ref>		In [[computer science]] and [[computer engineering]], '''computer architecture''' is a description of the structure of a [[computer]] system made from component parts.<ref>{{cite web\|last=Dragoni\|first=Nicole\|title=Introduction to peer to peer computing\|url=http://www2.imm.dtu.dk/courses/02220/2017/L6/P2P.pdf\|website=DTU Compute – Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science\|location=Lyngby, Denmark\|date=n.d.}}</ref> It can sometimes be a high-level description that ignores details of the implementation.<ref>{{cite book\|last1=Clements\|first1=Alan\|title=Principles of Computer Hardware\|page=1\|edition=Fourth\|quote=Architecture describes the internal organization of a computer in an abstract way; that is, it defines the capabilities of the computer and its programming model. You can have two computers that have been constructed in different ways with different technologies but with the same architecture.}}</ref> At a more detailed level, the description may include the [[instruction set architecture]] design, [[microarchitecture]] design, [[logic design]], and [[implementation]].<ref>{{cite book\|last1=Hennessy\|first1=John\|last2=Patterson\|first2=David\|title=Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach\|page=11\|edition=Fifth\|quote=This task has many aspects, including instruction set design, functional organization, logic design, and implementation.}}</ref>

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	Besides instructions, the ISA defines items in the computer that are available to a program—e.g., [[data type]]s, [[Processor register\|registers]], [[addressing mode]]s, and [[Computer memory\|memory]]. Instructions locate these available items with register indexes (or names) and memory addressing modes.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Organization of Computer Systems: ISA, Machine Language, Number Systems \|url=https://www.cise.ufl.edu/~mssz/CompOrg/CDA-lang.html \|website=www.cise.ufl.edu \|access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \|title=Instruction Set Architecture – Computer Architecture \|url=https://www.cs.umd.edu/~meesh/411/CA-online/chapter/instruction-set-architecture/index.html \|website=www.cs.umd.edu \|access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref>		Besides instructions, the ISA defines items in the computer that are available to a program—e.g., [[data type]]s, [[Processor register\|registers]], [[addressing mode]]s, and [[Computer memory\|memory]]. Instructions locate these available items with register indexes (or names) and memory addressing modes.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Organization of Computer Systems: ISA, Machine Language, Number Systems \|url=https://www.cise.ufl.edu/~mssz/CompOrg/CDA-lang.html \|website=www.cise.ufl.edu \|access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \|title=Instruction Set Architecture – Computer Architecture \|url=https://www.cs.umd.edu/~meesh/411/CA-online/chapter/instruction-set-architecture/index.html \|website=www.cs.umd.edu \|access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref>

	The ISA of a computer is usually described in a small instruction manual, which describes how the instructions are encoded. Also, it may define short (vaguely) mnemonic names for the instructions. The names can be recognized by a software development tool called an [[assembler (computer programming)\|assembler]]. An assembler is a computer program that translates a human-readable form of the ISA into a computer-readable form. [[Disassembler]]s are also widely available, usually in [[debugger]]s and software programs to isolate and correct malfunctions in binary computer programs.		The ISA of a computer is usually described in a small instruction manual, which describes how the instructions are encoded. Also, it may define short (vaguely) mnemonic names for the instructions. The names can be recognized by a software development tool called an [[assembler (computer programming)\|assembler]]. An assembler is a computer program that translates a human-readable form of the ISA into a computer-readable form. [[Disassembler]]s are also widely available, usually in [[debugger]]s and software programs to isolate and correct malfunctions in binary computer programs.<ref>{{cite book \|last1=Hennessy \|first1=John L. \|last2=Patterson \|first2=David A. \|title=Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach \|date=23 November 2017 \|publisher=[[Morgan Kaufmann Publishers]] \|isbn=978-0-12-811906-8 \|url=https://google.com/books/edition/Computer_Architecture/cM8mDwAAQBAJ \|access-date=30 May 2025 \|language=en}}</ref>

	ISAs vary in quality and completeness. A good ISA compromises between [[programmer]] convenience (how easy the code is to understand), size of the code (how much code is required to do a specific action), cost of the [[computer]] to interpret the instructions (more complexity means more hardware needed to decode and execute the instructions), and speed of the computer (with more complex decoding hardware comes longer decode time). [[Memory organisation\|Memory organization]] defines how instructions interact with the memory, and how memory interacts with itself.		ISAs vary in quality and completeness. A good ISA compromises between [[programmer]] convenience (how easy the code is to understand), size of the code (how much code is required to do a specific action), cost of the [[computer]] to interpret the instructions (more complexity means more hardware needed to decode and execute the instructions), and speed of the computer (with more complex decoding hardware comes longer decode time). [[Memory organisation\|Memory organization]] defines how instructions interact with the memory, and how memory interacts with itself.

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	An [[instruction set architecture]] (ISA) is the interface between the computer's software and hardware and also can be viewed as the programmer's view of the machine. Computers do not understand [[high-level programming language]]s such as [[Java (programming language)\|Java]], [[C++]], or most programming languages used. A processor only understands instructions encoded in some numerical fashion, usually as [[Binary numeral system\|binary number]]s. Software tools, such as [[compiler]]s, translate those high level languages into instructions that the processor can understand.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Glossary \|url=https://codasip.com/glossary/isa \|website=Codasip \|access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \|title=What is Instruction Set Architecture (ISA)? \|url=https://www.arm.com/glossary/isa \|website=The Architecture for the Digital World \|access-date=30 May 2025 \|language=en}}</ref>		An [[instruction set architecture]] (ISA) is the interface between the computer's software and hardware and also can be viewed as the programmer's view of the machine. Computers do not understand [[high-level programming language]]s such as [[Java (programming language)\|Java]], [[C++]], or most programming languages used. A processor only understands instructions encoded in some numerical fashion, usually as [[Binary numeral system\|binary number]]s. Software tools, such as [[compiler]]s, translate those high level languages into instructions that the processor can understand.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Glossary \|url=https://codasip.com/glossary/isa \|website=Codasip \|access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \|title=What is Instruction Set Architecture (ISA)? \|url=https://www.arm.com/glossary/isa \|website=The Architecture for the Digital World \|access-date=30 May 2025 \|language=en}}</ref>

	Besides instructions, the ISA defines items in the computer that are available to a program—e.g., [[data type]]s, [[Processor register\|registers]], [[addressing mode]]s, and [[Computer memory\|memory]]. Instructions locate these available items with register indexes (or names) and memory addressing modes.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Organization of Computer Systems: ISA, Machine Language, Number Systems \|url=https://www.cise.ufl.edu/~mssz/CompOrg/CDA-lang.html \|website=www.cise.ufl.edu \|access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref>		Besides instructions, the ISA defines items in the computer that are available to a program—e.g., [[data type]]s, [[Processor register\|registers]], [[addressing mode]]s, and [[Computer memory\|memory]]. Instructions locate these available items with register indexes (or names) and memory addressing modes.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Organization of Computer Systems: ISA, Machine Language, Number Systems \|url=https://www.cise.ufl.edu/~mssz/CompOrg/CDA-lang.html \|website=www.cise.ufl.edu \|access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \|title=Instruction Set Architecture – Computer Architecture \|url=https://www.cs.umd.edu/~meesh/411/CA-online/chapter/instruction-set-architecture/index.html \|website=www.cs.umd.edu \|access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref>

	The ISA of a computer is usually described in a small instruction manual, which describes how the instructions are encoded. Also, it may define short (vaguely) mnemonic names for the instructions. The names can be recognized by a software development tool called an [[assembler (computer programming)\|assembler]]. An assembler is a computer program that translates a human-readable form of the ISA into a computer-readable form. [[Disassembler]]s are also widely available, usually in [[debugger]]s and software programs to isolate and correct malfunctions in binary computer programs.		The ISA of a computer is usually described in a small instruction manual, which describes how the instructions are encoded. Also, it may define short (vaguely) mnemonic names for the instructions. The names can be recognized by a software development tool called an [[assembler (computer programming)\|assembler]]. An assembler is a computer program that translates a human-readable form of the ISA into a computer-readable form. [[Disassembler]]s are also widely available, usually in [[debugger]]s and software programs to isolate and correct malfunctions in binary computer programs.

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	An [[instruction set architecture]] (ISA) is the interface between the computer's software and hardware and also can be viewed as the programmer's view of the machine. Computers do not understand [[high-level programming language]]s such as [[Java (programming language)\|Java]], [[C++]], or most programming languages used. A processor only understands instructions encoded in some numerical fashion, usually as [[Binary numeral system\|binary number]]s. Software tools, such as [[compiler]]s, translate those high level languages into instructions that the processor can understand.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Glossary \|url=https://codasip.com/glossary/isa \|website=Codasip \|access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \|title=What is Instruction Set Architecture (ISA)? \|url=https://www.arm.com/glossary/isa \|website=The Architecture for the Digital World \|access-date=30 May 2025 \|language=en}}</ref>		An [[instruction set architecture]] (ISA) is the interface between the computer's software and hardware and also can be viewed as the programmer's view of the machine. Computers do not understand [[high-level programming language]]s such as [[Java (programming language)\|Java]], [[C++]], or most programming languages used. A processor only understands instructions encoded in some numerical fashion, usually as [[Binary numeral system\|binary number]]s. Software tools, such as [[compiler]]s, translate those high level languages into instructions that the processor can understand.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Glossary \|url=https://codasip.com/glossary/isa \|website=Codasip \|access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \|title=What is Instruction Set Architecture (ISA)? \|url=https://www.arm.com/glossary/isa \|website=The Architecture for the Digital World \|access-date=30 May 2025 \|language=en}}</ref>

	Besides instructions, the ISA defines items in the computer that are available to a program—e.g., [[data type]]s, [[Processor register\|registers]], [[addressing mode]]s, and [[Computer memory\|memory]]. Instructions locate these available items with register indexes (or names) and memory addressing modes.		Besides instructions, the ISA defines items in the computer that are available to a program—e.g., [[data type]]s, [[Processor register\|registers]], [[addressing mode]]s, and [[Computer memory\|memory]]. Instructions locate these available items with register indexes (or names) and memory addressing modes.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Organization of Computer Systems: ISA, Machine Language, Number Systems \|url=https://www.cise.ufl.edu/~mssz/CompOrg/CDA-lang.html \|website=www.cise.ufl.edu \|access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref>

	The ISA of a computer is usually described in a small instruction manual, which describes how the instructions are encoded. Also, it may define short (vaguely) mnemonic names for the instructions. The names can be recognized by a software development tool called an [[assembler (computer programming)\|assembler]]. An assembler is a computer program that translates a human-readable form of the ISA into a computer-readable form. [[Disassembler]]s are also widely available, usually in [[debugger]]s and software programs to isolate and correct malfunctions in binary computer programs.		The ISA of a computer is usually described in a small instruction manual, which describes how the instructions are encoded. Also, it may define short (vaguely) mnemonic names for the instructions. The names can be recognized by a software development tool called an [[assembler (computer programming)\|assembler]]. An assembler is a computer program that translates a human-readable form of the ISA into a computer-readable form. [[Disassembler]]s are also widely available, usually in [[debugger]]s and software programs to isolate and correct malfunctions in binary computer programs.

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	{{Main\|Instruction set architecture}}		{{Main\|Instruction set architecture}}
	{{More citations needed\|date=May 2025}}		{{More citations needed\|date=May 2025}}
	An [[instruction set architecture]] (ISA) is the interface between the computer's software and hardware and also can be viewed as the programmer's view of the machine. Computers do not understand [[high-level programming language]]s such as [[Java (programming language)\|Java]], [[C++]], or most programming languages used. A processor only understands instructions encoded in some numerical fashion, usually as [[Binary numeral system\|binary number]]s. Software tools, such as [[compiler]]s, translate those high level languages into instructions that the processor can understand.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Glossary \|url=https://codasip.com/glossary/isa \|website=Codasip \|access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref>		An [[instruction set architecture]] (ISA) is the interface between the computer's software and hardware and also can be viewed as the programmer's view of the machine. Computers do not understand [[high-level programming language]]s such as [[Java (programming language)\|Java]], [[C++]], or most programming languages used. A processor only understands instructions encoded in some numerical fashion, usually as [[Binary numeral system\|binary number]]s. Software tools, such as [[compiler]]s, translate those high level languages into instructions that the processor can understand.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Glossary \|url=https://codasip.com/glossary/isa \|website=Codasip \|access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \|title=What is Instruction Set Architecture (ISA)? \|url=https://www.arm.com/glossary/isa \|website=The Architecture for the Digital World \|access-date=30 May 2025 \|language=en}}</ref>

	Besides instructions, the ISA defines items in the computer that are available to a program—e.g., [[data type]]s, [[Processor register\|registers]], [[addressing mode]]s, and [[Computer memory\|memory]]. Instructions locate these available items with register indexes (or names) and memory addressing modes.		Besides instructions, the ISA defines items in the computer that are available to a program—e.g., [[data type]]s, [[Processor register\|registers]], [[addressing mode]]s, and [[Computer memory\|memory]]. Instructions locate these available items with register indexes (or names) and memory addressing modes.