Computer Architecture Questions
Instruction Set Architecture (ISA) refers to the set of instructions that a computer processor can execute. It defines the operations that a processor can perform, the data types it can handle, the memory addressing modes it supports, and the format of the instructions. The ISA acts as an interface between the hardware and software of a computer system, allowing software developers to write programs that can be executed by the processor. It provides a standardized way for software to interact with the underlying hardware, ensuring compatibility and portability across different computer systems. The ISA also influences the performance and capabilities of a processor, as different ISAs may have varying levels of complexity and support for advanced features.