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Module 2: x86 Architecture, CPU Control, I/O, Memory System Design

20152m

Define program counter.

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Program Counter (PC):

The Program Counter is a CPU register that holds the memory address of the next instruction to be fetched for execution.

  • At fetch, CPU reads instruction from address in PC, then PC is incremented (by instruction length, typically +1 or +4) to point to next sequential instruction.
  • On branch/jump/call/return and interrupt, PC is loaded with target address, changing sequential flow.
  • Essential for control flow and instruction sequencing; often called Instruction Pointer (IP).

Also used to calculate return address and for relative addressing.

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