A branch history table (BHT) is a type of hardware component used in computer processors to improve the accuracy of branch prediction. Branches refer to the conditional statements in the code that determine the direction in which the program should execute, based on certain conditions.
The role of a branch history table is to keep a record of the recent branching behavior of the program and use this information to predict the direction of future branches. By predicting the correct direction of branching, the processor can reduce the number of pipeline stalls and improve the performance of the program.
The BHT works by recording the outcome of previous branches and using that information to predict future branches. For example, if a branch in the code is taken the last few times it was executed, then it is likely to be taken again in the future. The BHT tracks this history and provides feedback to the branch predictor to improve its accuracy.
Overall, the BHT plays a key role in improving the efficiency and performance of modern computer processors by reducing the number of pipeline stalls caused by incorrectly predicted branching behavior.
Publication date: