[1] : The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03)

32-bit application
     
         ibm pc software that runs
        in a 32-bit flat address space.
     
        the term 32-bit application came about because ms-dos and
        microsoft windows were originally written for the intel
        8088 and 80286 microprocessors.  these are 16 bit
        microprocessors with a segmented address space.  programs
        with more than 64 kilobytes of code and/or data therefore had
        to switch between segments quite frequently.  as this
        operation is quite time consuming in comparison to other
        machine operations, the application's performance may suffer.
        furthermore, programming with segments is more involved than
        programming in a flat address space, giving rise to some
        complications in programming languages like "memory models"
        in c and c++.
     
        the shift from 16-bit software to 32-bit software on ibm pc
        clones became possible with the introduction of the intel
        80386 microprocessor.  this microprocessor and its successors
        support a segmented address space with 16-bit and 32 bit
        segments more precisely: segments with 16- or 32-bit address
        offset or a linear 32-bit address space.  for compatibility
        reasons, however, much of the software is nevertheless written
        in 16-bit models.
     
        operating systems like microsoft windows or os/2 provide
        the possibility to run 16-bit segmented programs as well as
        32-bit programs.  the former possibility exists for backward
        compatibility and the latter is usually meant to be used for
        new software development.
     
        see also win32s.
     
        1995-12-11
     
     
see also:
ibm pc flat address space 32-bit application ms-dos microsoft windows intel 8088 
80286 microprocessors 16 bit segmented address space segments 
memory models c c++ clones intel 80386 
operating system os/2 backward compatibility win32s 

Application >> A Words
Application, definition of term: Application
application_pag1.html

Application Pro >> A Words
Application Pro, definition of term: Application Pro
application+pro_pag1.html

Application Sof >> A Words
Application Sof, definition of term: Application Sof
application+sof_pag1.html

Application Pro >> A Words
Application Pro, definition of term: Application Pro
application+pro_pag1.html

Application Pro >> A Words
Application Pro, definition of term: Application Pro
application+pro_pag1.html

Application For >> A Words
Application For, definition of term: Application For
application+for_pag1.html

Application Lay >> A Words
Application Lay, definition of term: Application Lay
application+lay_pag1.html