3 ms·
Every major CPU ISA still in use can, in fact, address individual bytes (C and C++ standards even demand atomic access). It's just inefficient, but sometimes n
by p_l 1y ago
Every major CPU ISA still in use can, in fact, address individual bytes (C and C++ standards even demand atomic access).
It's just inefficient, but sometimes needed (MMIO, inter-cpu visible byte changes, etc)
- deleted 1y ago[deleted]
- int_19h 1y agoC and C++ standards demand atomic access to individual chars. It is not a given that a C/C++ char is a "byte" in the conventional modern understanding of that word, though. sizeof(char)==sizeof(bool)===sizeof(int)==1 is a perfectly valid arrangement for an architecture that is only capable of addressing machine words, and there have been such architectures historically although I'm not sure any are still around today.
- piperswe 1y agoDon't modern C and C++ standards mandate an 8-bit char now though? EDIT: never mind, guess I misremembered! it's just mandated to be at least 8 bits