The CPU is designed to understand a set of instructions - the instruction set. It fetches the instructions from the main memory and executes them. This is done repeatedly from when the computer is booted up to when it is shut down. The CPU fetches the instructions one at a time from the main memory into the registers.

What is fetching in microprocessor?

The processor operates by processing instructions in what is called the "fetch/execute cycle." The processor fetches (reads from memory) an instruction and then, depending on the instruction, executes it (takes some further action with it, such as shifting bits to the right or left).

What is fetch and decode?

The fetch-decode-execute cycle is a process that the CPU repeats continuously in order to execute instructions. To complete each cycle, the CPU goes through three main stages. Fetches a program instruction from the main memory. Decodes the instruction, i.e. works out what needs to be done.