Which of the following DOES NOT constitute a basic computer instruction?

The correct answer is Input/Output instruction.

Key Points

• Input/Output instructions are considered peripheral operations rather than basic computer instructions.
• Basic computer instructions are fundamental operations that the CPU can directly execute to perform tasks such as arithmetic, data movement, and control flow.
• Input/Output instructions, on the other hand, involve communication with peripheral devices such as keyboards, monitors, printers, and storage devices.
• These operations are generally handled using specialized hardware and protocols, often requiring more complex processing.
• Examples of basic computer instructions include arithmetic operations (e.g., addition, subtraction), data transfer (e.g., move, load, store), and control instructions (e.g., jump, branch).

Additional Information

• Input/Output operations are crucial for enabling interaction between the computer and the external world, but they are typically not part of the core set of basic instructions executed by the CPU.
• To perform Input/Output operations, computers use mechanisms such as device drivers, which act as intermediaries between the operating system and hardware devices.
• In modern architectures, Input/Output instructions are often abstracted to higher-level operations handled by the operating system or firmware.
• Some computer architectures use memory-mapped I/O, where Input/Output devices are assigned specific memory addresses to facilitate communication with the CPU.
• While Input/Output instructions are essential for overall system functionality, they are not categorized as basic computer instructions in the strict sense.