Program Counter: GCSE Computer Science Definition

What is the Program Counter?

The program counter (PC) is a register within the CPU that holds the memory address of the next instruction to be fetched and executed as part of the the fetch-decode-execute cycle.

After the instruction has been fetched, the PC is typically incremented by 1 to point to the memory address of the next instruction.

Program Counter Revision Resources to Ace Your Exams

Explore the program counter in more detail and master other key related terms such as the memory address register (MAR) and accumulator (ACC) in our revision note pages here:

Von Neumann Architecture (OCR GCSE Computer Science)
CPU components & their function (AQA GCSE Computer Science)

Challenge yourself with our expertly created topic questions and reinforce your learning with our interactive flashcards. 

GCSE Computer Science Revision Resources