What is a Stored-Program Computer?

A stored-program computer is a type of computer architecture where instructions (programs)

and data are stored in the same memory. This allows the computer to fetch, decode, and execute
instructions sequentially or based on control flow.
Key Features of a Stored-Program Computer
1. Memory Storage – Both program instructions and data reside in the same memory space.
2. Sequential Execution – Instructions are fetched and executed one at a time unless
control instructions (like jumps or loops) alter the sequence.
3. Flexibility – Programs can be modified by simply changing memory contents, making
the system reprogrammable.
4. Binary Representation – Instructions and data are stored in binary format.
Origin & Importance
• The concept was first proposed by John von Neumann in the 1940s and became the
foundation of modern computing.
• The Von Neumann Architecture describes this model, where a single memory holds
both data and instructions, processed by a central unit.
Examples of Stored-Program Computers
• Modern laptops, desktops, and smartphones
• Early computers like the EDSAC (1949) and EDVAC
References from OpenCourseWare (OCW)
1. MIT OpenCourseWare – Computation Structures (Spring 2017)
o Lecture 9: Designing an Instruction Set
▪ Discusses the von Neumann model and the stored-program computer
architecture developed by John von Neumann in 1945.
▪ Covers the anatomy of a von Neumann computer and the key idea
behind stored-program computers.
▪ Link (Computation Structures, Spring 2017).
o Lecture 10: Assembly Language, Models of Computation
▪ Explores the concept of interpreting a coded representation of a
computation, which forms the basis for stored-program computers.
▪ Discusses the Universal Turing Machine as the paradigm for modern
general-purpose computers.
▪ Link
2. MIT OpenCourseWare – Introduction to Computer Science and Programming
(Spring 2011)
o Lecture 1: Introduction to 6.00
 ▪ Introduces the difference between fixed-program and stored-program
computers.
▪ Explains the advantage of stored-program computers in terms of
versatility and the ability to perform a variety of tasks by interpreting
stored instructions.
▪ Link

Lecture: Basic Architecture of a Stored-Program Computer

Introduction
A stored-program computer follows the Von Neumann Architecture, where both instructions
and data are stored in the same memory. This architecture allows computers to be flexible and
reprogrammable, forming the foundation of modern computing.

1. Key Components of a Stored-Program Computer

A stored-program computer consists of the following main components:
1.1 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
The CPU is the "brain" of the computer and is responsible for executing instructions. It has two
primary subcomponents:
• Control Unit (CU): Directs the operation of the processor by fetching, decoding, and
executing instructions.
• Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU): Performs arithmetic (addition, subtraction) and logical
(AND, OR, NOT) operations.
Reference:
MIT OpenCourseWare – Computation Structures (Spring 2017)
• Lecture 9: Designing an Instruction Set
o Discusses how the CPU processes instructions in the stored-program model.
o Link

1.2 Memory (RAM)

• Stores both program instructions and data.
• Organized in addressable units, allowing the CPU to fetch and execute instructions
sequentially.
Reference:
MIT OpenCourseWare – Introduction to Computer Science and Programming (Spring 2011)
• Lecture 1: Introduction to 6.00
o Covers memory organization in stored-program computers.
 o Link

1.3 Input/Output (I/O) Devices

• Input Devices: Keyboard, mouse, sensors (for feeding data into memory).
• Output Devices: Monitor, printer, speakers (for displaying processed information).

2. The Fetch-Decode-Execute Cycle

The stored-program computer operates using the Fetch-Decode-Execute Cycle:
1. Fetch:
o The CPU retrieves an instruction from memory.
2. Decode:
o The Control Unit interprets the instruction.
3. Execute:
o The ALU performs computations or moves data as required.
4. Repeat:
o The next instruction is fetched, continuing the cycle.
Reference:
MIT OpenCourseWare – Computation Structures (Spring 2017)
• Lecture 10: Assembly Language, Models of Computation
o Explains instruction processing and execution cycles.
o Link

3. Importance of Stored-Program Architecture

• Flexibility: Can run multiple programs without hardware changes.
• Efficiency: Memory storage simplifies design and speeds up execution.
• Scalability: Modern computers can store and execute large programs efficiently.
Reference:
MIT OpenCourseWare – Computation Structures (Spring 2017)
• Lecture 1: Information Representation and Communication
o Discusses the advantages of stored-program architecture in modern computing.
o Link

Conclusion
The stored-program computer revolutionized computing by allowing machines to store and
execute instructions dynamically. Its architecture, based on memory, CPU, and I/O devices,
enables modern computing systems to run multiple tasks efficiently.