RISC

Definitions

1. Reduced Instruction Set Computer — a CPU design philosophy that uses a small, highly optimized set of fixed-length instructions, each typically executing in a single clock cycle. RISC architectures (ARM, MIPS, RISC-V) favor simple instructions and rely on the compiler to combine them efficiently, contrasting with CISC's complex multi-cycle instructions.

   In plain English: A type of processor design that uses many simple, fast instructions instead of fewer complex ones, leading to more efficient chips.

   Example: "ARM's RISC design is why your phone gets 12 hours of battery — fewer transistors per instruction means less power draw."

Related Terms

• FPGA
• ASIC
• UART
• Interrupt Handler
• DMA
• Latch
• Performance Counter
• RISC-V
• Superscalar
• X86