control structure
<programming> One of the instructions, statements or groups of statements
in a programming language which determines the sequence of execution of other
instructions or statements (the control flow).
In assembly language this typically consists of jumps and conditional jumps
along with procedure call and return though some architectures include other
constructs such as an instruction which skips the following instruction
depending on some condition (PDP?), various kinds of loop instructions (later
Motorola 680x0) or conditional execution of all instructions (Advanced RISC
Machine).
Basic control structures (whatever their names in particular languages) include
"if CONDITION then EXPRESSION else EXPRESSION", the switch statement, "while
CONDITION do EXPRESSION", "gosub", the suspect "goto" and the much-feared "come
from". Other constructs handle errors and exceptions such as traps and
interrupts.
(1997-09-14)
Nearby terms:
Control Program for Microcomputers « control-Q «
control-S «
control structure » control tty » control unit »
conventional memory
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