Bus error is a relatively common programming error that refers to a specific type of memory access violation. The spelling of the word "bus" in this context is not related to the vehicle. Instead, it stems from the word "bus" as used in computer architecture to refer to a physical path that carries data from one component of the system to another. The pronunciation of "bus" in this context is /bʌs/, with a short "u" sound followed by a soft "s" sound.
A bus error, in the context of computer programming and operating systems, is a type of error that occurs when a program attempts to access data or perform operations that are not allowed or not supported by the hardware's memory management unit (MMU). It is called a "bus error" because it typically involves accessing memory or data through the system bus.
The term "bus" refers to the interconnect that facilitates communication between various components of a computer system, including the CPU, memory, and I/O devices. The system bus is responsible for carrying data, instructions, and control signals between these components. When a program tries to access memory that is not properly aligned or does not exist, it results in a bus error.
A bus error can occur due to various reasons, such as attempting to access unallocated memory, accessing memory in a way that violates alignment requirements, or trying to execute instructions that are not supported by the hardware. These errors often result in the termination of the program or the triggering of an exception that is handled by the operating system.
In summary, a bus error is a type of error that occurs when a program tries to access memory or perform operations that are not permitted or supported by the hardware's memory management unit. It typically involves accessing data or instructions through the system bus and can result in program termination or exception handling by the operating system.
The term "bus error" has its origins in computer architecture and programming. It is derived from the concept of a "bus", which refers to the communication pathway between different components of a computer system.
A "bus error" occurs when there is an error in accessing memory or data within the computer's memory hierarchy. This error is usually due to a violation of alignment or addressing rules when reading or writing data from memory.
The term "bus error" arises from the fact that the error is generated by the computer's bus system, which is responsible for transferring data between the processor and memory. When an error occurs during this data transfer, it is known as a "bus error".
The term has become widely used and is now commonly used in computer programming as a general error term that describes any error related to accessing memory or data in an improper or invalid way.