Complex Instruction Set Computing
Complex Instruction Set Computing (CISC) is a computer architecture design that allows a single instruction to execute multiple operations. This means that a CISC processor can perform complex tasks with fewer lines of code, making programming easier and more efficient. CISC architectures often include a wide variety of instructions, which can handle tasks like arithmetic, data manipulation, and control flow.
One of the most well-known examples of CISC architecture is the x86 family of processors, commonly used in personal computers. CISC designs aim to reduce the number of instructions per program, which can lead to improved performance in certain applications. However, this complexity can also make the hardware more challenging to design and optimize.