Assembly Language Programming Ch. 01
Address
The number that uniquely identifies a particular storage location or byte.
Logic errors
An error that can occur from a mistake in the sequencing of instructions as well as from an improperly coded instruction that does not accomplish what was intended. Contrast with syntax error.
Syntax errors
An error caused by a violation of a programming rule.
Coding sheet
A form used to prepare a program that contains the specific columns in which entries are required in a particular programming language.
Character
A letter, number, or special symbol such as a $ or *.
Diagnostic
A listing and explanation of a syntax error.
Object program
A machine-language equivalent of a source program; output from an assembly process.
Supervisor
A program that is part of the operating system but resides in the CPU for the purpose of controlling the operations of the entire system
Translator
A program used to convert a source program into machine language; types of translators include compilers, interpreters, and assemblers.
Source program
A program written in a symbolic programming must be translated before they can be executed.
Symbolic programming languages
A programming language that is relatively easy for a programmer to learn but that requires a translation process before a program can be run
Low-level language
A programming language that most closely resembles actual machine language; it is somewhat more difficult to code that a high-level language and requires a relatively simple translation process. Assembler language is a low-level language.
Program
A set of instructions that reads input data, processes it and produces output information.
Byte
A single storage position; consists of 8 bits.
High-level language
A symbolic programming language that is relatively easy for the programmer to code, is least like the machine's internal code, and requires a complex translation process.
Macros
An instruction that, when assembled, requires the assembler to generate many machine-language statements. Most I/O instructions in assembler language are coded as macros.
Computer system
An integrated series of components consisting of a central processing unit, input, and output devices.
Megabyte
Approximately one million bytes.
Binary Instructions
Instructions that operate on data that is in registers.
Mnemonic
Operations codes coded in assembler language.
Program sheet
See coding sheet.
Register
Serves as an accumulator or temporary storage area; greatly facilitates the processing of data by the computer. There are 16 general registers, numbered 0-15.
Execution
The actual running of a program that has been translated into machine language.
Central processing unit (CPU)
The computer unit that controls the actual operations of the computer system; a CPU consists of primary or main storage, an arithmetic-logic unit, and a control unit.
Virtual storage
The dynamic interaction between primary storage and auxiliary storage in such a way that CPU appears to have more storage than it actually has; involves breaking a program up into segments or pages, and, one-at-a-time, bringing each part into the CPU.
Operand
The fields or storage areas to be operated on or branched to in each assembler language instruction. For example, in the instruction A 4, TOTAL, which adds the contents of TOTAL to register 4, TOTAL and 4 are operands.
Operation code
The item or verb that instructs the computer as to the operation to be performed. For example, in the instruction A 4,TOTAL, which add the contents of TOTAL to register 4, A is the operation code.
Machine Language
The language into which programs must be translated before they can be executed.
Memory size
The storage capacity of a computer system.
Mainframes
The traditional computer system used in most medium and large business organizations for (1) information processing in a centralized or distributed mode, and (2) data communications applications where terminals at remote locations transmit data to a central processing unit.
One-to-many conversion process
The translation of a symbolic instruction into many machine-language instructions.
One-to-one conversion process
The translation of a symbolic instruction into one machine-language instruction.
Assembly (assembler)
The translator (process) that produces an absolute or actual machine-language equivalent of an assembler language program.
Compilation (compiler)
The translator (process) that produces an actual machine-language equivalent of a high-level symbolic program such as one written in COBOL, BASIC, FORTRAN, and so on.
Stored program concept
The use of main memory for temporarily storing programs as well as data.