address

1. networking e-mail address.

2. networking Internet address.

3. networking MAC address.

4. storage, programming An unsigned integer used to select

one fundamental element of storage, usually known as a word

from a computer's main memory or other storage device. The

CPU outputs addresses on its address bus which may be

connected to an address decoder, cache controller, memorymanagement unit, and other devices.

While from a hardware point of view an address is indeed an

integer most strongly typed programming languages disallow

mixing integers and addresses, and indeed addresses of

different data types. This is a fine example for syntacticsalt: the compiler could work without it but makes writing

bad programs more difficult.

(1997-07-01)