Endian Architecture

Endian Architecture is a way in which multi-byte quantities, such as 32-bit words, are stored in a byte-addressed memory.

Example

In a "little-endian" architecture, the least significant byte of the quantity is stored at the lowest memory address in the range of addresses used to store the quantity. The reverse is also true; where in a "big-endian" architecture the most significant byte is stored at the lowest address.

PDP-11 and VAX families of computers, Intel microprocessors, and many communications and networking hardware are "little-endian." Most processors, including the IBM 370 family, the PDP-10, the Motorola microprocessor families, and most of the various RISC processors are "big-endian."


 

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