Fetch - Decode - Execute

Fetch - Decode - Execute

1. The processor checks the program counter to see which instruction to run next

   • The program counter gives an address value in the memory of where the next instruction is.
     • The processor fetches the instruction value from this memory location.
       • Once the instruction has been fetched, it needs to be decoded and executed. For example, this could involve taking one value, putting it into the ALU, then taking a different value from a register and adding the two together.
         • Once this is complete, the processor goes back to the program counter to find the next instruction
           • This cycle is repeated until the program ends