operande

An operande is a term used in computing and programming to refer to the data or entity that an instruction acts upon. In essence, it is the object of an operation. For example, in the arithmetic expression 2 + 3, the numbers 2 and 3 are the operandes, and the addition symbol '+' represents the operation. The instruction itself dictates what will be done to the operandes.

Operandes can take various forms depending on the context. They can be values directly embedded within an instruction, known as immediate operandes. Alternatively, they can be stored in memory locations or registers, which are then referenced by the instruction. The number of operandes an instruction requires can vary; some instructions might operate on a single operande, while others might need two or more.

Understanding operandes is fundamental to comprehending how computer programs execute. Each machine language instruction, the most basic level of programming, consists of an opcode (the operation to be performed) and one or more operandes specifying the data to be manipulated. This concept extends to higher-level programming languages where variables and literals serve as operandes for operators like addition, subtraction, or logical comparisons. The nature and location of operandes significantly influence the performance and efficiency of software.