6502based

6502based refers to hardware or systems that use the MOS Technology 6502 microprocessor or its derivatives as their central processing unit. The term covers a broad range of 8-bit microcomputers and video game consoles from the late 1970s through the 1980s and later hobbyist projects that employ the architecture.

The 6502 is an 8-bit processor with a 16-bit address bus, registers A, X, Y, a stack pointer, program counter, and a status register. It uses a compact instruction set with multiple addressing modes. Instructions typically execute in 2–7 cycles, and it supports IRQ, NMI, and reset interrupts. Designed for cost efficiency and ease of integration, it enabled widespread use in consumer electronics.

Notable 6502based systems include the Apple II, Commodore PET and Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit machines, the BBC Micro, and the Nintendo Entertainment System via the Ricoh 2A03/2A07 derivative. The Commodore 6510 variant adds built-in I/O ports. The NES uses a 6502-family CPU with a custom set of peripherals.

Variants in the 6502 family include the 65C02, which added instructions and bug fixes; the original 6502C; the 6510 with integrated I/O; and the 65CE02 with additional features. The line influenced many later microprocessors and left a lasting imprint on 8-bit computing and retrocomputing culture.

Today, 6502based is used to describe projects and products built around the 6502 family, including emulators, FPGA recreations, and educational systems. The platform remains central to retrocomputing communities and preservation efforts.