Assembly and high-level programming terminology: Contiguous sequences of bytes or words processed as a unit (with instructions like MOVS, CMPS, SCAS on x86) are commonly called ________.

Introduction / Context:
Processors and programming languages provide mechanisms to operate on contiguous blocks of memory. In x86 assembly, a dedicated set of instructions handles such operations efficiently. This question targets the common term used to describe those contiguous sequences.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Operations may include moving, comparing, scanning, or storing bytes/words/dwords sequentially.
• x86 provides instructions such as MOVS, CMPS, SCAS, STOS, and LODS.
• High-level code often maps to library “string/memory” functions.

Concept / Approach:
The umbrella term for contiguous sequences of characters or arbitrary bytes in many contexts is “strings.” While “string” often implies character data, at the instruction-set level it broadly denotes contiguous memory elements processed repetitively.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Intel and AMD manuals call these “string operations,” covering byte/word/dword sequences independent of textual meaning.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Common Pitfalls:
Assuming “strings” only mean ASCII text; overlooking that string ops also manipulate arbitrary memory blocks.

Final Answer:
strings