x86

x86 is a family of instruction set architectures originating with Intel’s 8086 processor. Its descendants preserve substantial compatibility while extending from 16-bit designs to 64-bit computing.

x86 instruction set: The machine instructions and architectural rules implemented by x86 processors. It defines the operations and state that make the x86 family compatible.
Intel 8086: Intel’s 16-bit microprocessor, introduced in 1978, whose architecture began the x86 lineage. Its instruction set established the family’s original design.
Instruction set architecture: A specification of a processor’s instructions, registers, data types, and externally visible behavior. x86 is one long-lived family of these software-visible specifications.
ARM architecture: A family of processor architectures known for widespread use in mobile devices and embedded systems. ARM offers a major alternative to x86 in personal computers and servers.
IBM Personal Computer: IBM’s 1981 personal computer, built around the Intel 8088 processor. Its success anchored x86 in the expanding personal-computer market.
x86-64: The 64-bit extension of x86, also called AMD64 or Intel 64. It adds 64-bit registers and addressing while retaining support for legacy x86 software.
Intel 8088: An Intel processor with an 8086-compatible core and an 8-bit external data bus. Its use in the IBM PC helped establish x86 in personal computing.
Machine code: The binary instructions directly interpreted or executed by a processor. x86 programs ultimately encode operations in this processor-specific form.
RISC-V: An open instruction set architecture designed around a small base and optional extensions. Its extensible, openly specified design contrasts with x86’s historically accumulated complexity.
IBM PC compatible: A personal computer designed to run software made for IBM’s original PC platform. Compatibility across manufacturers helped x86 become the dominant desktop platform.

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