x86compatible

X86compatible, often written as x86-compatible, is a label used for hardware and software that can execute programs designed for the x86 instruction set architecture (ISA). The term covers processors that implement the x86 family, including 16-bit implementations introduced by the Intel 8086/8088, the 32-bit i386 era, and the 64-bit extension known as x86-64.

The IBM PC and the broader PC ecosystem propagated the x86-compatible strategy, ensuring binary compatibility across generations. This has allowed software to run with little or no modification across decades.

In modern systems, x86-64 processors provide 64-bit operation while maintaining backward compatibility; software compiled for i386 typically runs in 64-bit mode via a compatibility layer; some 16-bit code is more problematic and may require emulation for full compatibility.

Despite competition from ARM, x86-compatible remains dominant in desktop and server markets; the term is frequently used in marketing to indicate that hardware supports the same instruction set. The ecosystem includes compilers, operating systems, and virtualization tools.