Correct option is D
The HLT instruction is not a pseudo-instruction; it is a machine-level instruction that halts the CPU. Pseudo-instructions, on the other hand, are not actual machine instructions but are used by assemblers to simplify programming and represent assembly directives.
Information Booster
1. HLT: A real machine instruction that halts the CPU until a reset signal or interrupt is received.
2. Pseudo-Instructions:
· Pseudo-instructions simplify assembly programming but are replaced by actual machine instructions or assembler directives during the assembly process.
· Examples: ORG, EQU, END, DB (Define Byte).
3. Machine Instructions:
· Executed directly by the CPU.
· HLT is a machine instruction that stops further execution.
Additional Knowledge
· Assembler Directives: Commands to the assembler to perform specific tasks (e.g., memory allocation, program termination).
· Examples of Pseudo-Instructions:
· EQU: Used to define constants.
· DB: Allocates a byte of memory and initializes it with a value.
· RESB: Reserves a block of bytes in memory.
· ORG: A pseudo-instruction used to set the starting address for a program or a segment in memory. It tells the assembler where to place the subsequent instructions or data.
· DEC: A pseudo-instruction or assembly directive used to declare variables or allocate memory for data.
· END: A pseudo-instruction used to indicate the end of the source program to the assembler.