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Assembly, Linking, Loading 2

Assembly, linking, and loading are crucial steps in the compilation process that convert human-readable instructions into executable programs. The assembler translates assembly language into object code, the linker combines object files into a single executable, and the loader places the executable into memory for execution. Each step involves specific tools and processes to ensure the program functions correctly in memory.

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2 views4 pages

Assembly, Linking, Loading 2

Assembly, linking, and loading are crucial steps in the compilation process that convert human-readable instructions into executable programs. The assembler translates assembly language into object code, the linker combines object files into a single executable, and the loader places the executable into memory for execution. Each step involves specific tools and processes to ensure the program functions correctly in memory.

Uploaded by

11 CD2 Harini
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© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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ASSEMBLY, LINKING AND LOADING

Question: Write short notes on Assembly, Linking and Loading.) (10 Marks)

1. INTRODUCTION

 Assembly and linking are the last steps in the compilation process — they turn a list of
instructions into an image of the program's bits in memory.
 Loading actually puts the program in memory so that it can be executed.
 Most compilers create the instruction-level program in the form of human-readable
assembly language.

📌 (Draw the diagram — "Program generation from compilation through loading" — as


shown in the book)

2. ASSEMBLY

 The assembler's job is to translate symbolic assembly language into object code (bit-level
representations).
 The assembler handles instruction formats and translates labels into addresses.
 The simplest form uses absolute addresses — the starting address is specified by the
programmer.

Label Processing — Two Pass Assembler:

First Pass:
 Scans the code to find the address of each label.
 Stores label name and address in a symbol table.
 Uses a Program Location Counter (PLC) to track current memory location.

Second Pass:

 Looks up each label in the symbol table and substitutes its value into the instruction.

📌 (Draw the diagram — "Symbol table processing during assembly" — as shown in the
book)

ORG Statement:

 ORG 2000 sets the PLC to 2000 — placing the start of the program at location 2000.

3. LINKING

 A linker stitches together several smaller object files into one executable.
 The linker operates on object files created by the assembler.

Key Terms:

 Entry Point — the place in the file where a label is defined.


 External Reference — the place where the label is used.
 The linker's main job is to resolve external references based on available entry points.

📌 (Draw the diagram — "External references and entry points" — as shown in the book)
Two Phases of Linker:

 Phase 1 — Determines the starting address of each object file using a load map.
 Phase 2 — Merges all symbol tables and changes relative addresses into actual addresses. If
a label is not found, an error message is sent.

4. LOADING

 The loader brings the program into memory for execution.


 Loading is the final step — it places the executable binary into the correct memory locations
so the CPU can begin execution.

SUMMARY
Step Tool Function

Assembly Assembler Assembly language → Object code

Linking Linker Object files → Executable binary

Loading Loader Places program into memory

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