Department of
Computer Science and Engineering
Title: Introduction to assembly language and EM
U8086 instruction set
Assembly Programming Lab
CSE 3106
Jashore University of Science and Technology
1 Objective(s)
• To have insight on assembly language.
• To understand EMU8086 instruction sets.
2 Problem analysis
Computers basically work binary digits of 0 and 1. Central processing units only understand commands in
machine language which only consists bit string of 0 or 1. However, operating a computer using machine
language is an arduous task for users. That’s why assembly language provides a flexible way to code. In
assembly language, symbolic names are used to represent operations, registers and memory locations. Though
assembly language helps to make computer commands a little bit understandable for human users, but it must be
converted into machine language for CPU processing. Assembler is used to convert assembly language segments
to machine language.
EMU 8086 is microprocessor 8086 emulator. It has a built in 8086 assembler. The word "Emulate" means to
imitate or copy something. EMU 8086 is designed to emulate hardware. It runs the program in a step by step
mode showing registers, memory, stack, variable etc just like a microprocessor.
(a) Machine Instruction Set
(b) Assembly Instruction set
Figure 1: Instruction Set
2.1 Instruction Set of EMU8086
Instructions of 8086 microprocessor is based on the functions they perform. Here is given a Table 1 in the
following page which shows various instructions that we will use in our next labs to solve different problems in
assembly language.
2.2 General Purpose Registers
General purpose registers are used to store temporary data within the microprocessor. There are 8 general
purpose registers in 8086 microprocessor. Descriptions of general purpose registers are given in Table 2.
2.3 Data Transfer Instructions
Different data transfer instructions are shown in Table 3.
3 Example of MOV and ADD command in EMU8086
1
2 MOV AX,1234H
3 ADD BX,4H
Table 1: Instruction set of 8086
Instruction Description
MOV Moves data.
LEA Loads offset address into specific register.
PUSH Moves the content of a memory or register to the top of the stack.
POP Pop out the top of the stack and puts the content in memory or register.
POPF Pop content from the top of the stack and keeps them in the flag register.
AND Performs bit by bit logical AND operation of two operands.
OR Performs bit by bit logical OR operation of two operands.
XOR Performs bit by bit logical XOR operation of two operands
NOT Performs bit by bit logical NOT operation.
ADD/SUB/MUL/DIV Performs addition, subtraction, multiplication and division respectively.
INC/DEC Increment/decrement a register or memory by 1.
RCL/RCR/ROL/ROR Rotate all the bits of an operand left/right using carry flag or without carry flag.
JAE/JNB/JNC Jump if above, not below, equal or no carry i.e. when CF = 0
JA /JNBE Jump if above, not below, or equal i.e. when CF and ZF = 0
JB/JNAE/JC Jump if below, not above, equal or carry i.e. when CF = 0
Table 2: General Purpose Registers
Registers Description
AX This is accumulator register. It is a 16 bit register.
BX It is known as base register. Used for store the value of offset.
CX Also known as counter register. Used for loop and rotation.
DX Known as data register. Used for manipulating input output port address.
SP Stack Pointer.
BP Base Pointer
SI Source Index Register.
DI Destination Index register.
Table 3: Data Transfer Instructions
Data Transfer Mode Examples
Move contents of BX register to AX register
Registers(Direct)
Example: MOV AX,BX
Move contents of the variable labeled COUNT to AX register.
Direct
Example: MOV AX, COUNT
Load CX register with the value 240d
Immediate Example: MOV CX, 00F0H
MOV CX, 240
Load CX register with the value at address 240.
Memory
Example: MOV CX, [0F0H]
Move contents of AL register to memory location in BX.
Registers(Indirect)
Example: MOV [BX], AL
Figure 2: Output
4 Input/Output
Here the output for the written two commands MOV AX,1234H and ADD BX,4H has been shown( Figure 2).
This output analysis would help students to gain more insights on 8086 working principles.
5 Discussion & Conclusion
Based on the focused objective(s) to understand about the machine and assembly language,EMU 8086 and the
additional lab exercise made me more confident towards the fulfilment of the objectives(s).
6 Lab Task (Please implement yourself and show the output to the
instructor)
1. Install EMU8086 on your computer.
2. Run simple MOV and ADD commands. (Example: MOV AX,40H).
7 Lab Exercise (Submit as a report)
• Discuss about advantage and disadvantages of assembly language compared to high level languages.
• Put 100H to register BX, Then move the contents of this register to AX register.
• After that add 10H to the contents of AX register.
8 Policy
Copying from internet, classmate, seniors, or from any other source is strongly prohibited. 100% marks will be
deducted if any such copying is detected.
