CPU Registers

 CPU Registers

Computers have several storage locations called registers. Registers are part of the control unit and ALU rather than memory. Registers are several small, high-speed memory units that hold data and instructions temporarily during processing.

• Location: Built-in within the CPU itself.
• Size: Extremely small, with only a few bytes per register.
• Access Speed: Fastest memory type, with access times in nanoseconds.
• Purpose: Hold data and instructions currently being processed by the CPU.
• Benefits:
• Provide immediate access to critical data and instructions for the fastest possible execution.
• Essential for complex calculations and program control flow.
• Drawbacks:
• Extremely limited size, restricting the amount of data they can hold.
• Data is lost when the program completes or the CPU switches tasks.