1. Flags and Conditional Instructions
The chapter explores flags and conditional instructions within the context of computer architecture, focusing on how conditions influence instruction execution. It discusses the role of flags in decision-making and instruction branching, detailing the differences between conditional and unconditional instructions. Understanding these concepts is fundamental for controlling the flow of programs and implementing effective algorithms.
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What we have learnt
- Conditional instructions execute based on certain flags that reflect the state of previous operations.
- There are two types of branch instructions: conditional and unconditional, which affect the program counter differently.
- Flag registers play a crucial role in determining the control flow by storing bits that indicate the results of arithmetic operations.
Key Concepts
- -- Conditional Instruction
- Instructions that modify the control flow based on the evaluation of certain conditions.
- -- Flag Register
- A register that holds individual bits which indicate the results of operations, such as the zero flag, carry flag, and sign flag.
- -- Program Counter (PC)
- A register that contains the address of the next instruction to be executed in the sequence.
- -- Jump Instruction
- An instruction that causes the program to jump to a different location in memory, which can either be conditional or unconditional.
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