instruction set architecture

Definitions

The abstract model of a computer system that defines the set of commands, data types, and registers available to a programmer or compiler.

The functional interface between the hardware and software of a computer, specifying how the processor executes machine-level operations.

Examples

The instruction set architecture defines the interface between the software and the underlying hardware.

Engineers must carefully design the instruction set architecture to ensure efficient execution of complex programs.

x86 and ARM are two of the most widely used examples of an instruction set architecture in modern computing.