SYLLABUS CONTENT
Describe the fetch, decode, and execute cycle.
A1.1.5
The Fetch –Decode –Execute Cycle
Machine Language
The System Clock
The Fetch –Decode –Execute Cycle
A1.1 COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS
Low -Level vs. Higher -Level Instructions
, 2
Machine Language
Just as numbers, text, and multimedia data must be represented by 0s and 1s (
discussed in Section A1.2.2), software programs must also be represented as 0s an
Before a computer can execute any program instruction, such as requesting input from
the user, moving a file from one storage device to another, or opening a new window on the
screen, it must convert the instruction into a binary code known as machine langua
An example of a typical machine language instruction is as follows:
A1.1 COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS
01011000011100000000000100000010
KEY TERM
machine language: a binary -based programming language, consisting only of 0s and 1s,
that a computer can execute directly
A1.1.5 The Fetch –Decode –Execute Cycle ( p. 11-13)