Assembly Language vs. Machine Language
Assembly provides convenient symbolic representation
- much easier than writing down numbers
- e.g., destination first
Machine language is the underlying reality
- e.g., destination is no longer first
Assembly can provide 'pseudoinstructions'
- e.g., “move $t0, $t1” exists only in Assembly
- would be implemented using “add $t0,$t1,$zero”
When considering performance you should count real instructions