Difference between Direct and Implied Addressing Modes


There are two different modes of addressing namely, Direct Addressing Mode and Implied Addressing Mode, to address operands in computer programs. Therefore, the fundamental difference between direct and implied addressing modes is in their method of specifying operands in computer programming. Before discussing the differences between direct and implied addressing modes, let us first know a bit about them individually.

What is Direct Addressing Mode?

In computer programming, the addressing mode in which the actual memory address of the data is given to specify the operand is termed as direct addressing mode. Therefore, in the case of direct addressing mode, the instructions directly specifies the memory location of the data.

The direct addressing mode is used in the case when the memory location of the data is already known and the computer instructions can directly access it without need of any extra computation.

The direct addressing mode is very common in computer programming using assembly language. This addressing mode is best suited for operations which involve memory manipulation like transferring data among different memory locations.

The direct addressing is more error prone because it require the use of addresses of the memory locations. However, it is on the straightforward modes of accessing data that stored in memory.

What is Implied Addressing Mode?

The type of addressing mode used in computer programming in which the instructions implicitly specifies the operands is termed as implied addressing mode. Therefore, in the implied addressing mode, the instructions do not explicitly specify the operand, instead the operands are implied depending on the nature of the instructions or context in which they are used.

In the case of implied addressing mode, the instruction works on an accumulator implicitly and the memory location of the operand is not specified. Therefore, the implied addressing mode is suitable for operations that do not require memory manipulation. It is primarily used in high-level computer programming languages.

Difference between Direct Addressing Mode and Implied Addressing Mode

The following are the important differences between direct addressing mode and implied addressing mode −

Parameter

Direct Addressing Mode

Implied Addressing Mode

Basic

Direct addressing mode is the addressing mode in computer programming in which the memory address of the data where it is stored is explicitly specified in the instruction.

Implied addressing mode is the addressing mode in computer programming in which the operand is implied depending on the nature of instruction or the context in which it is used.

Need of memory address

Direct addressing mode requires a memory address.

Implied addressing mode does not require the use of a memory address.

Speed

In the direct addressing mode, the memory location is already known, hence it is faster.

Implied addressing mode is slower than direct addressing mode.

Memory required

In the direct addressing mode, more memory space is required to store the memory address of the operand.

Implied addressing mode requires less memory space.

Error prone

Direct addressing mode is more error prone as it requires memory address calculation and manipulation.

Implied addressing mode is less error prone compared to direct addressing mode.

Suitability

Direct addressing mode is suitable for operations that require memory manipulation like transferring data among memory locations.

Implied addressing mode is suitable for operations that do not involve memory manipulation like arithmetic operations.

Flexibility

Direct addressing mode is more flexible as it allows coders to specify any memory location.

Implied addressing mode is less flexible than direct addressing mode because it limits the coders to a certain set of registers.

Complexity

Due to need of additional memory management, the direct addressing mode is more complex than implied addressing mode.

Implied addressing mode is less complex than the direct addressing mode.

Programming language

Direct addressing mode is mostly used in programming using assembly language.

Implied addressing mode is commonly used in programming using high-level languages.

Type of operand to which used

Direct addressing mode can be used for data as well as instruction operands.

Implied addressing mode can only be used for instruction operands.

Use

Direct addressing mode is used when the memory location of the operand is known beforehand.

Implied addressing mode is used when the operand is implicitly specified in the instruction itself.

Conclusion

The most significant difference between direct and implied addressing mode is that the direct addressing mode is one in which the operand’s memory location is explicitly specified in the instruction, whereas the implied addressing mode is one in which the operand is implied depending on the nature of the instruction or the context in which it is used.

Updated on: 25-Apr-2023

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