16-bit application

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)

16-bit application

   <operating system> Software for {MS-DOS} or {Microsoft
   Windows} which originally ran on the 16-bit {Intel 8088} and
   {80286} {microprocessors}.  These used a {segmented address
   space} to extend the range of addresses from what is possible
   with just a 16-bit address.  Programs with more than 64
   kilobytes of code or data therefore had to waste time
   switching between {segments}.  Furthermore, programming with
   segments is more involved than programming in a {flat address
   space}, giving rise to {warts} like {memory models} in {C} and
   {C++}.

   Compare {32-bit application}.

   (1996-04-06)