What Is Three-Address Code?
Three-address code is a compiler intermediate representation in which every instruction performs one simple operation with at most three operands, usually computing a result from two inputs. Complex expressions are broken into a sequence of such instructions using temporary variables. Its uniform, simple shape makes it convenient for analysis and optimization.
Why it matters
Reducing rich expressions to simple three-operand steps gives optimizations a regular form to work on. It is a common stop on the path from source to machine code.
Related guides
What Is Static Single Assignment?Static single assignment is an intermediate form where each variable is assigned exactly once, simplifying ma…
What Is a Register Machine?A register machine is an execution model whose instructions read and write a set of named registers instead o…
What Is a Basic Block?A basic block is a straight-line sequence of instructions with one entry and one exit, used as the unit of an…