fetch-decode-execute cycle
nounUK /fɛtʃ dɪˈkəʊd ˈɛksɪkjuːt ˈsaɪkəl/
US /fɛtʃ dɪˈkoʊd ˈɛksɪkjuːt ˈsaɪkəl/
The steps a computer follows to get an instruction, figure out what it means, and do it.
Every time you tap an app, the processor runs the fetch-decode-execute cycle to carry out your command.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. The repeating loop that keeps a CPU busy from the moment it is switched on.
The fetch-decode-execute cycle repeats billions of times each second.
3. A teaching model used to explain how computers process simple commands step by step.
The teacher drew the fetch-decode-execute cycle on the board to show how a calculator adds two numbers.
4. The basic rhythm of a stored-program computer, where instructions and data share the same memory.
Understanding the fetch-decode-execute cycle helps you see why faster memory speeds up a computer.