01How Computers Work (online)

Interactive circuit laboratory 08

CPU instruction tracer

Step through an educational accumulator program and watch PC, ACC and flags.

Prediction before clicking

The toy accumulator uses immediate inputs for clarity; every step updates an explicit machine state.

Loading interactive controls…

What the simulator is showing you

The toy accumulator uses immediate inputs for clarity; every step updates an explicit machine state.

Try to predict the next output before changing the input. A prediction is evidence that you understand the mechanism. If the result surprises you, trace the bit values or the stored state explicitly.

Minimal CPU architecture, diagram of connected labeled components
Minimal CPU architecture. Follow the arrows to identify where information travels and what each block contributes.

Go deeper into the explanation

These experiments are simplified teaching models. The rules are intentional and inspectable, but they do not simulate transistor propagation delay, power consumption, or real processor pipeline details.