A near pointer refers to a memory address contained within a single segment of an x86 segmented address. Specifically, it represents the offset or bit address within a 16-bit enabled area of computer memory. While near pointers are useful for accessing small amounts of data, they have a limitation in that they can only access data within a maximum size of approximately 64 kb at any given time.
Main Points:
- Near pointers are used in x86 segmented addressing.
- They represent memory addresses within a single segment.
- Near pointers can access up to 16 bits of data.
- They have a limitation of accessing only around 64 kb of data.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the purpose of a near pointer?
The purpose of a near pointer is to provide a way to access data within a limited memory range in x86 segmented addressing.
What is the main drawback of using near pointers?
The main drawback of near pointers is their limitation in accessing only a small amount of data, approximately 64 kb, at any given time.
In conclusion, near pointers are memory addresses within a single segment of an x86 segmented address. While they are limited in accessing small amounts of data, they serve a specific purpose in x86 segmented addressing.
