Digital Electronics - Computers - Discussion

Instructions for the 80x86 family are downward compatible because newer processors in this family are designed to support the instruction sets of their predecessors. This means that software written for earlier models, like the 8086 or 80286, can run on later models, like the 80386, 80486, and Pentium series, without modification. T.

He newer processors include all the instructions of the older ones and often add new instructions and features, ensuring that legacy software continues to function as hardware evolves.