The Intel x86 computer instruction set architecture has supported memory segmentation since the original Intel 8086 in 1978. It allows programs to address
virtual memory and physical memory than was possible on its 32-bit predecessors, allowing programs to store larger amounts of data in memory. x86-64 also
microprocessor, with memory segmentation as a solution for addressing more memory than can be covered by a plain 16-bit address. The term "x86" came into being