Week 3 Flashcards
(24 cards)
Program vs Process
A program is a set of instructions that a computer executes.
whereas a Process is a running instance of the program (actively being executed)
What is a characteristic of high-level programs?
High-level programs are easier to read and write but cannot be executed directly by the CPU.
What is machine code?
Machine code is a low-level language consisting of sequences of instructions.
What does ISA stand for?
ISA stands for Instruction Set Architecture.
What does the ISA define?
The ISA is the set of instructions that a CPU understands.
List some types of instructions included in the ISA.
- Performing arithmetic operations
- Moving data
- Executing conditions and loops
What are registers in a CPU?
Registers are small, fast memory cells inside the CPU.
What is the purpose of general-purpose registers?
General-purpose registers hold temporary values for calculations.
What is the role of special-purpose registers?
Special-purpose registers are used internally by the CPU.
What is the function of memory in relation to the CPU?
Memory stores both machine code instructions and data.
What is a memory address?
Each memory location has an address and contains a value.
Define assembly language.
Assembly language is a human-readable form of machine code.
What does an assembler do?
An assembler translates assembly language into machine code.
What is the role of a compiler?
A compiler translates high-level programs into machine code
What does an interpreter do?
An interpreter directly executes high-level programs without compiling them into machine code.
Fill in the blank: The CPU executes _______ stored in memory.
machine code
What is computer memory?
The storage space within a computer where data and instructions are temporarily stored for quick access by the CPU
What is the function of computer memory?
Allows the computer to run programs and access data rapidly
What type of memory is most commonly used for actively running programs?
Random Access Memory (RAM)
What is a characteristic of RAM?
Volatile, meaning it loses data when the power is turned off
What is the primary purpose of ROM? (Read-only memory)
Stores essential firmware and software that are permanently stored
What is a key characteristic of ROM?
Non-volatile, meaning it retains data even when the power is off
Fill in the blank: RAM is _______ meaning it loses data when the power is turned off.
volatile
Fill in the blank: ROM is _______ meaning it retains data even when the power is off.
non-volatile
