Definition of the Microprocessor
The Microprocessor is
a programmable device that takes in numbers, performs on them arithmetic or
logical operations according to the program stored in memory and then produces
other numbers as a result.
What is a
Microprocessor?
The word comes from the
combination micro and processor. Processor means a device that processes
whatever. In this context processor means a device that processes numbers,
specifically binary numbers, 0’s and 1’s.
To process means to
manipulate. It is a general term that describes all manipulation. Again in this
content, it means to perform certain operations on the numbers that depend on
the microprocessor’s design.
Arithmetic and Logic Operations
Every microprocessor has arithmetic
operations such as add and subtract as part of its instruction set. Most
microprocessors will have operations such as multiply and divide.
Some of the newer ones will have
complex operations such as square root.
In addition, microprocessors have
logic operations as well. Such as AND, OR, XOR, shift left, shift right, etc.
Again, the number and types of
operations define the microprocessor’s instruction set and depends on the
specific microprocessor
Inside The Microprocessor
Internally, the microprocessor is
made up of 3 main units.
The
Arithmetic/Logic Unit (ALU)
The
Control Unit.
An
array of registers for holding data while it is being manipulated.
Assembly Language
Entering the instructions using
hexadecimal is quite easier than entering the binary combinations.
However, it still is difficult to
understand what a program written in hexadecimal does.
So, each company defines a symbolic
code for the instructions.
These codes are called “mnemonics”.
The mnemonic for each instruction is
usually a group of letters that suggest the operation performed.