The machine instruction cycle

This is a basic concept in computer science

The machine instruction cycle describes the order that instructions are processed in a computer. 

Instructions are processed under the direction of the control unit in a step-by-step manner.

There are four fundamental steps in the instruction cycle:

1. Fetch the instruction The next instruction is fetched from the memory address that is currently stored in the Program Counter (PC), and stored in the Instruction register (IR). At the end of the fetch operation, the PC points to the next instruction that will be read at the next cycle.

2. Decode the instruction The decoder interprets the instruction. During this cycle the instruction inside the IR (instruction register) gets decoded.

3. Execute The Control Unit of CPU passes the decoded information as a sequence of control signals to the relevant function units of the CPU to perform the actions required by the instruction such as reading values from registers, passing them to the ALU to perform mathematical or logic functions on them, and writing the result back to a register. If the ALU is involved, it sends a condition signal back to the CU.

4. Store result The result generated by the operation is stored in the main memory, or sent to an output device. Based on the condition of any feedback from the ALU, Program Counter may be updated to a different address from which the next instruction will be fetched.

Data Bus: A data bus is a connection between the different parts of a computer that information is sent on.

Address Bus: The address bus is a data bus that is used to specify a physical address. A CPU will specify the memory location.

Excellent simulations of the machine instruction cycle

1. It can be helpful to imagine there is a little mailman inside your computer! Click here to learn more about this technique
2. Click here for a great simulation!
3. This is also very good simulation (little man simulation)