The Fetch-Execute Cycle: What's Your Computer Actually Doing?

Tom Scott explains the fundamental fetch-execute cycle that drives how CPUs run programs.

The fetch-execute cycle is the basis of everything your computer or phone does. This is literally The Basics. • Sponsored by Dashlane —try 30 days for free at: dashlane.com/tomscott Thanks to Dashlane for sponsoring the video! If you're techie enough to watch this video, you should be using a password manager. Get a 30-day free trial at dashlane.com/tomscott MORE BASICS: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL96C35uN7xGLLeET0dOWaKHkAlPsrkcha MINOR CORRECTIONS: In the graphics, "programme" should be "program". I say "Mac instead of PC"; that should be "a phone instead of a PC". And most importantly, I say "every sixth cycle": that should be "every ninth". Fortunately, none of these materially affect the content of the video! Written with Sean Elliott twitter.com/SeanMElliott/ Directed by Tomek Graphics by Mooviemakers mooviemakers.co.uk/ Audio mix by Haerther Productions haerther.net/ 🟥 MORE FROM TOM: tomscott.com/ (you can find contact details and social links there too) ❓ LATERAL, free weekly podcast: lateralcast.com/ youtube.com/lateralcast/ 👥 THE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES: youtube.com/techdif