instruction pointer
Also found in: Acronyms.
instruction pointer
[in′strək·shən ‚pȯint·ər] (computer science)
A component of a task descriptor that designates the next instruction to be executed by the task.
An element of the control component of the stack model of block structure execution, which points to the current instruction.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.