Book excerpt: Since its commercialization in 1971, the microprocessor, a modern and integrated form of the central processing unit, has continuously broken records in terms of its integrated functions, computing power, low costs and energy saving status. Today, it is present in almost all electronic devices. Sound knowledge of its internal mechanisms and programming is essential for electronics and computer engineers to understand and master computer operations and advanced programming concepts. This book in five volumes focuses more particularly on the first two generations of microprocessors, those that handle 4- and 8- bit integers. Microprocessor 5 – the fifth and final volume of this series of books – first presents the hardware and software aspects of the development chain of a microprocessor-based digital system. Finally, to round up the series and offer a historical perspective, the architectures of the first microcomputers are detailed. A comprehensive approach is used, with examples drawn from current and past technologies that illustrate theoretical concepts, making them accessible.