Question

On the 80x86 CPU, the ESP register keeps track of the value on the top of the runtime stack.

a) true
b) false

Answer 1

True

Step-by-step explanation:

The ESP register acts as an indirect operand pointing to the top of the stack at any time.

Stack grows downwards from high memory when a program adds to the stack. However, when items are removed from the stack, it shrinks upwards from low to high memory.

The assembler reduces the stack pointer(ESP) register by 2, when a word value is pushed on to the stack. On the other hand, the assembler increases the stack pointer by 2 when a word value is popped off.

The assembler decreases or increases the ESP register by 4 when a double word value is pushed or popped off the stack respectively. Therefore the ESP register changes in multiples of 4.