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16-bit application

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.

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16550 16550A 16650 16750C 16 bit	16 bit flat thunk	16C550 16C750 16C850 1802 1NF