Which term describes a sequence of instructions for performing a computing task that can be stored in memory?

Which term describes a sequence of instructions for performing a computing task that can be stored in memory?

• A. Application Software
• B. Operating System
• C. Firmware
• D. Stored program

Answer: (D)

A program is a sequence of instructions that can be stored in memory and executed by the processor. This idea, central to the stored-program or von Neumann architecture, lets the same hardware run lots of different tasks by loading different instructions into memory. The CPU fetches each instruction, decodes it, and carries it out, working with data that’s also held in memory. This term fits best because it directly describes the notion of a runnable set of instructions that you can save, load, and execute. Other options refer to types of software or specialized code: application software is about user tasks, firmware is code embedded in non-volatile hardware for specific devices, and an operating system is a particular kind of system software. The description in the question matches the general concept of a stored program.

A program is a sequence of instructions that can be stored in memory and executed by the processor. This idea, central to the stored-program or von Neumann architecture, lets the same hardware run lots of different tasks by loading different instructions into memory. The CPU fetches each instruction, decodes it, and carries it out, working with data that’s also held in memory.

This term fits best because it directly describes the notion of a runnable set of instructions that you can save, load, and execute. Other options refer to types of software or specialized code: application software is about user tasks, firmware is code embedded in non-volatile hardware for specific devices, and an operating system is a particular kind of system software. The description in the question matches the general concept of a stored program.