Types of Registers

Different types of registers are available nowadays. Read this article to learn about Accumulator, MAR, MDR, and more.

The computer register is a small fraction of data stored in the central processing unit’s rapid accessible memory. Various registers are used to execute various computer instructions and programmes. Many different types of computer registers can be used to execute instructions. The registers are classified according to their size, purpose, and name. These registers are used to temporarily store data and execute computer instructions, and they can also be used to store results. To another data set, register processing speed is the fastest.

Different Types of Registers

The following are the few kinds of computer registers that can be used to execute computer instructions:

1. MAR Register

Memory Address Registers (MAR) are the complete version of MAR. The memory address register is used to retrieve instructions and data from memory, and to aid in their execution. The central processor unit frequently uses the memory address register to read and store any sort of data. The memory address register keeps track of the address so that data can be retrieved quickly. The memory address register is primarily utilised for memory reading and writing operations. 

The address is fetched from the register to access the data during the reading process, and then the data is fed into other types of registers, known as memory data registers (MDR). The data is read from the memory data register and stored at the address determined by the memory address register during the writing operation. The address of the next location where data-related operations will be performed is always stored in the memory address register.

2. MDR

A memory data register is used to hold data that will be stored or fetched from the computer memory, also known as random-access memory (RAM). The memory data register serves primarily as a buffer, storing everything that can be copied from the computer memory and used by the processor for subsequent tasks. Before the data is sent to the decoder, it is stored in the memory data register. In the RAM data register, there are two types of registering. When data is fetched from memory and copied to the MDR, it is saved in one direction and written to the MDR by other CPU registers that store data in computer memory. The memory data register can also be used to store data and information that can be transferred to or from other memory components in the system. 

3. MBR

In addition to the memory data register, there is MBR, which stands for memory buffer register. Data and information that can be read or written into the computer memory are stored in the memory buffer register. The memory buffer register’s primary role is to store various sorts of computer instructions and data for transfer between computer memory. The memory buffer register is the processor’s main memory-related register in the processing unit, because it can perform memory-related operations very quickly.

4. PC

PC stands for programme counter register. The instruction address register (IAR) or instruction counter register (IC) is another term for the programme counter register (instruction counter). In a computer system, the programme counter is used to identify the current place of the programme sequence. When instructions are received from memory, the programme counter is incremented by one, and points to the next instruction to be executed by the central processing unit’s processor (CPU). The address of immediate instructions that must be performed next is stored in the programme counter. The instructions are fetched sequentially by the processors of the CPU, but other sorts of instructions, such as control transfer, might vary the order.

5. Accumulator

Another form of central processing unit register that is commonly used for storing logic or intermediate outcomes is the accumulator. The accumulator register is critical. If it is not present, all intermediate results must be kept in the main memory, which increases the memory cost, because then, the number of unnecessary read and write operations will increase. The intermediate results can be conveniently stored in the accumulator register. In comparison to main memory, the accumulator register accesses data significantly faster. There are several sorts of accumulators that can be used to store interim results in many current systems. The design will become more sophisticated as the use of accumulators increases.

6. Index Register

Index registers are a sort of processor registers found in the central processing unit (CPU) that are commonly used to change the address of operands during programme execution. The index register is frequently employed when performing array or vector operations. To obtain an effective data address, the content is read from the index register and added or subtracted from some immediate address. Special instructions can be used to test the index register, which is mostly used to test loop instructions. The index register can be utilised in indirect addressing where the address of the instruction needs to be modified.

Conclusion

There are several types of computer registers, such as accumulator, MDR, MAR, and more. All of these registers serve a specific purpose during the execution of an instruction, such as data-related processes, data retrieval or storage, and a variety of other tasks. The central processing unit’s CPU then executes the instructions stored in the register.

Also check:

faq

Frequently asked questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the NTA Examination Preparation.

What are registers, and what do they do?

Ans. Fetching, decoding, and execution are the three main functions of computer registers. The register collects and...Read full

Is a register a flip-flop?

Ans. A register is a collection of flip-flops that hold a binary word. Each bit in the data word requires one flip-...Read full

What are the differences between register and shift register?

Ans. The register is a collection of flip-flops used to hold and save binary data. Shift registers are those that ca...Read full

What exactly is MBR MAR?

Ans. Buffer registers are registers that are used to store binary words. Because each flip-flop can store a single b...Read full

What is the definition of a bidirectional shift register?

Ans. Bidirectional shift registers can be defined as those registers which, depending on the mode, can shift data ri...Read full